WALLIS, Samuel, captain - Lot 164

WALLIS, Samuel, captain Struggles and Escapes of Captain Wallis and his Crew, and their Various Conflicts with the Natives of Otaheite, during a Voyage of Discovery to the Northern Hemisphere, in the Summer of 1766; Including Interesting Particulars of the Inhabitants andf Country. Ldonres, Thomas Tegg, [ca. 1820]. In-12 (177 x 105 mm) with a folding aquatint frontispiece, pp. [5]-28. Half calf with corners, long spine gilt, gilt head (modern binding). O'Reilly, 262. First edition, published by Thomas Tegg in Tegg's Mariners' Marvelous Magazin series. It contains the "popular account of the Dolphin, 1766-1768, based on Hawkesworth's account. The frontispiece is a rendition of plate no. 1 of Hawkesworth's 1773 edition, depicting the Dolphin attacked by the native dugouts" (O'Reilly). Samuel Wallis (1728-1795), British navigator and explorer, was given command of the Dolphin in 1766 to undertake a circumnavigation, accompanied by Captain Philip Carteret on the Swallow. The two ships were separated at the passage of the Magellan Strait and Wallis continued the route alone. He discovered many islands and atolls in the Pacific, including Tahiti. Frontispiece mounted on canvas, left corner torn off touching the image. Very rare.