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LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 1
LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 2
LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 3
LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 4
LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 5
LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 6
LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789 A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. image 7
Lot 1

LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789
A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783.

31 October 2023, 12:00 EDT
Skinner Boston

Sold for US$127,500 inc. premium

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LEDYARD, JOHN. 1751-1789

A Journal of Captain Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America. WITH MAP COMPLETE. Hartford: Nathaniel Patten, 1783. Small 8vo (7 x 5 in.), contemporary calf with title Cook's Voyage gilt to red label on spine, with engraved folding frontispiece map titled "Chart shewing the Tracks of the Ships employed in Capt. Cook's last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779." Map unfolded measures 13 3/4 x 13 1/8 in. Slight rubbing to covers, stab marks in signatures A through K, no missing leaves, one closed tear to map at upper right, where it opens, with no loss. Map is complete, with plate marks present. Some toning and light mottling to internal pages, but overall a very tight, clean copy. Previous owner's inscription on ffep reads, "Topsfield 1792 Thos. Perkins".

FIRST EDITION of the first book by an American about Hawaii and the Northwest Coast. Extremely rare with the map intact; such copies appeared at auction in 1879, 1927, 1969, and 2008.

Ledyard, a native of Connecticut, served as a Royal Marine on board the HMS Resolution and was in the boat that took Cook ashore on the day he was killed, February 14, 1779. The map marks the spot where Cook died, next to the word "O Why hee," an early spelling of Hawaii. This is believed to be the first time the place name was printed on a map.

Ledyard's book also has the distinction of being the first to be protected by copyright in the United States of America.


Provenance: The property of a New England family since 1792.

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