Item #3107937 An account of the Pelew Islands…. George KEATE.
An account of the Pelew Islands…

An account of the Pelew Islands…

Basel: printed by J.J. Tourneisen, 1789.

Octavo; in a finely preserved contemporary binding of speckled polished sheep, red label.

The wreck of the Antelope; Lee Boo travels to England

Scarce continental edition of one of the most popular eighteenth-century books on the Pacific, first published in London the previous year, and frequently reprinted and translated into a number of languages. Keate tells the story of the Antelope, wrecked in 1783 on an uncharted reef near Palau; the crew reached shore and were well treated by the natives. From the wreck they built a small boat which they managed to get to Macao, taking with them Prince Lee Boo, the son of King Abba Thule. Lee Boo travelled with them to England, but died soon after of smallpox. This account did much to reinforce the idea of the noble savage, but was also the main source for early knowledge of the Palau Islands in Micronesia.

Scarce continental edition of one of the most popular eighteenth-century books on the Pacific, first published in London the previous year, and frequently reprinted and translated into a number of languages. Keate tells the story of the Antelope, wrecked in 1783 on an uncharted reef near Palau; the crew reached shore and were well treated by the natives. From the wreck they built a small boat which they managed to get to Macao, taking with them Prince Lee Boo, the son of King Abba Thule. Lee Boo travelled with them to England, but died soon after of smallpox. This account did much to reinforce the idea of the noble savage, but was also the main source for early knowledge of the Palau Islands in Micronesia.

George Keate, who compiled this official account of the voyage from the papers of Wilson, the Antelope's captain, and several of his officers, 'was the author of numerous books of poetry, history and letters, who counted Captain Wilson as well as Voltaire among his friends…' (Hill).

The publisher Tourneisen issued several such books of Pacific and voyaging interest: in 1788, for instance, they produced the first continental edition of Andrew Kippis' biography of Captain Cook.

Hill, 910 (describing another Basel version 'printed for J.L. Legrand').

Condition Report: Faint stain in margin of title and first few leaves.

Price (AUD): $725.00

US$476.19   Other currencies

Ref: #3107937

Condition Report