An Account of the Discoveries Made in the South Pacifick Ocean previous to 1764.

Sydney: Hordern House, 1996.

Octavo, with 7 illustrations; quarter blue calf and marbled boards.

Hordern House: Maritime Series 3

Facsimile of the Account of the Discoveries made in the South Pacifick Ocean previous to 1764, acknowledged as one of the rarest of all eighteenth-century publications about the Pacific and Australia. Now, for the first time since 1767, this book has been reproduced, complete with seven fold-out illustrations and enriched by modern scholarship, as number three in the Australian Maritime Series.

Facsimile of the Account of the Discoveries made in the South Pacifick Ocean previous to 1764, acknowledged as one of the rarest of all eighteenth-century publications about the Pacific and Australia. Now, for the first time since 1767, this book has been reproduced, complete with seven fold-out illustrations and enriched by modern scholarship, as number three in the Australian Maritime Series.

Through the existence of this work, we are shown that James Cook did not 'happen' on the east coast of Australia. The Admiralty, with territorial expansion foremost on its mind and Dalrymple's book in its hands, virtually directed him to its discovery. The voyage of Endeavour changed forever the concept of exploration from historical analysis to scientific investigation.

The Account is one of the few books mentioned by Banks or Cook as a reference used on Endeavour and the folding chart illustrated in the book shows precisely the void in the east coast of Australia that Cook was advised to explore.

The story of Dalrymple's life and work, and the Admiralty's decision to pass him over for James Cook as captain of the Endeavour, is thoroughly covered in the essay by Dr. Andrew Cook of the British Library which accompanies this facsimile of Dalrymple's now rare publication.

Limited edition of 900 copies.

Condition Report: spine faded

Ref: #4504907

Condition Report