First edition of one of the most famous of all voyage books: the official narrative of Bligh's voyage in the Bounty and the mutiny. At the time of publication Bligh was on his second breadfruit voyage, and the work was edited by James Burney, with the assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, both of whom had, like Bligh himself, sailed with Cook. This is the full account of the voyage, and contains a slightly altered version of Bligh's account of the mutiny, which had been separately published two years earlier. The mutiny and its ramifications would haunt Bligh always, although his reputation was redeemed by the epic open-boat journey across 4,000 miles of the Pacific, and later by the part he played in the battle of Copenhagen alongside Nelson. His inglorious career as governor of New South Wales would later ruin his reputation again.

First edition of one of the most famous of all voyage books: the official narrative of Bligh's voyage in the Bounty and the mutiny. At the time of publication Bligh was on his second breadfruit voyage, and the work was edited by James Burney, with the assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, both of whom had, like Bligh himself, sailed with Cook. This is the full account of the voyage, and contains a slightly altered version of Bligh's account of the mutiny, which had been separately published two years earlier. The mutiny and its ramifications would haunt Bligh always, although his reputation was redeemed by the epic open-boat journey across 4,000 miles of the Pacific, and later by the part he played in the battle of Copenhagen alongside Nelson. His inglorious career as governor of New South Wales would later ruin his reputation again.

The Bounty voyage was commissioned by the Admiralty, on the instructions of George III, to collect breadfruit plants ("the Merchants and Planters interested in His Majesty's West India Possessions have represented that the Introduction of the Bread Fruit Trees into the Islands in those Seas to constitute an Article of Food would be a very essential Benefit to the Inhabitants …"). The mutiny of 28 April 1789 resulted in Bligh and 18 others being cast adrift in an open-boat - certainly the most infamous mutiny in maritime history.

His achievement in charting large sections of the Australian coast under conditions of terrible hardship partly completed the work of Cook himself on the Australian east coast. Bligh was justifiably proud of his achievements in mapping and charting during his travails, and each of the printed charts features his name prominently: the sketch of Matavai Bay in Tahiti even features his signature in facsimile.