COOK, James - Lot 38

COOK, James Third voyage or Journey to the Pacific Ocean to make discoveries in the northern hemisphere, to determine the position & extent of the West Coast of North America, its distance from Asia & to resolve the question of the passage to the North. Translated from English by M. D[émeunier]***. Paris, Hôtel de Thou, 1785. 5 volumes in-4 (255 x 194 mm) of 4 ff.n.ch., CXXXII, 437 pp., 1 f.n.ch., 23 engraved plates (numbered 1-21, 82, and the frontispiece showing the death of Captain Cook) for volume I; 2 ff.n.ch., 422 pp, 14 engraved plates (numbered 22-35) for volume II; 2 ff.n.c., 488 pp. 32 engraved plates (numbered 36-62, 68, 83, 84, 86, 87) for volume III; 2 ff.n.c., 552 pp. 1 f.n.c., 19 engraved plates (numbered 63-67, 69-81, 85) 1 folding printed table on page 520 for volume IV. Marbled calf, triple gilt fillet, ornate spine, marbled edges (period binding). Sabin, 16261; O'Reilly, 436 & Forbes, 90 (mention only 87 plates); see Hill, 361 (1784 English ed.). First edition of the French translation by Demeunier. To complete the reconnaissance of the globe by his third voyage, such was the royal mission and ambition of Captain Cook. This one took place between 1776 and 1780, mainly in the Pacific Ocean, and saw Cook's death on the island of Hawaii. The Resolution and the Discovery also sailed along the coast of Alaska in the hope of discovering the Bering Strait passage. After Cook's death, Clerke, commander of the Discovery, took the lead of the expedition and tried again to discover the northern passage, but this time by the northwest, but he died of phthisis off the coast of Kamchatka, only 6 months after his commander, without having succeeded. Interesting general introduction which offers a bibliography of circumnavigations. The 88 beautiful engraved plates show the death of Captain Cook, plans, costumes, and maps, notably the large general map "Offering the discoveries made by Captain Jacques [sic! The copy does contain the large folding plate bound at the beginning of the first volume which, according to O'Reilly and Forbes, is not included in all copies. It shows the death of Captain Cook. A very good copy, spine and corners skilfully restored.