An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island…
An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, with the Discoveries which have been made in New South Wales and in the Southern Ocean, since the publication of Phillip's Voyage, compiled from the Official Papers; Including the Journals of Governors Phillip and King, and of Lieut. Ball; and the Voyages from the First Sailing of the Sirius in 1787, to the Return of that Ship's Company to England in 1792.
London: John Stockdale, 1793.
Quarto, with 17 engraved plates, folding maps and charts, list of subscribers; period-style calf, spine gilt in compartments between raised bands.
Engraved by William Blake
First edition of John Hunter's Journal: a foundation book of Australian coastal exploration which, together with Phillip's account, gives the first charting of Sydney Harbour. Hunter's account is a primary source for the early settlement of Norfolk Island, whose first settlement had also been named Sydney (or Sidney) Town in honour of the Home Secretary.
First edition of John Hunter's Journal: a foundation book of Australian coastal exploration which, together with Phillip's account, gives the first charting of Sydney Harbour. Hunter's account is a primary source for the early settlement of Norfolk Island, whose first settlement had also been named Sydney (or Sidney) Town in honour of the Home Secretary.
Captain Hunter was appointed second captain of HMS Sirius under Phillip for the voyage to Botany Bay. Once in New South Wales he was actively engaged in surveying and exploration, and only left for England in late 1791 after an enforced stay of eleven months on Norfolk Island following the shipwreck of the Sirius there. In England he published this account, and was later recalled to New South Wales in February of 1795 to replace Captain William Paterson as commander in September of that year.
Of particular note is the plate View of the settlement on Sydney Cove, after a sketch by Hunter which is the earliest depiction of the town of Sydney and that of A family of New South Wales after a drawing by Philip Gidley King and given particular beauty by William Blake as engraver.
Crittenden, 'A Bibliography of the First Fleet', 110; Ferguson, 152; Hill, 857; Wantrup, 13, Essick, William Blake's Commercial Book Illustrations, XXVII.
Condition Report: The lower margin of the title cut close with loss of date, as is often the case; otherwise an excellent copy.
Price (AUD): $7,850.00
US$5,083.44 Other currencies