COOK, JAMES. 1728-1779. A Voyage towards the South Pole, and Round the World. Performed ... In the years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. In which is included Captain Furneaux's Narrative ... during the Separation of the Ships. London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777. 2 volumes. 4to (282 x 230 mm). xl, 378; [viii], 396 pp. Engraved portrait of Cook by J. Basire after William Hodges, 63 engraved plates, maps and charts (33 folding), one folding letterpress table. Recent calf gilt, bound to style. Vol 1 without final blank 3C2, lower quarter of 3C1 torn away with loss to three lines of text and the leaf neatly repaired with the missing letterpress supplied, large folding "Chart of the Southern Hemishere" holed and with repairs to old folds, four plates shaved with loss [as usual], portrait frontispiece close-shaved at upper margin, 9 plates with tears or repaired tears, including plate 50 facing p 110 in vol 2 torn in half and repaired, some other small repairs to plates and occasional offsetting.

FIRST EDITION OF THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF COOK'S SECOND VOYAGE. "The success of Cook's first voyage led the Admiralty to send him on a second expedition which was to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible in search of any southern continents. Cook proved that there was no 'Terra Australis' which supposedly lay between New Zealand and South America but became convinced that there must be land beyond the ice fields" (Hill 358). Beddie 1216; Holmes 24; PMM 223; Rosove 77.A1; Sabin 16245.