A Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, on Discovery: Performed in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780

… Illustrated with Cuts and Charts, shewing the Tracks of the Ships employed in this expedition.

Dublin, 1781, Contemporary calf gilt, rebacked,  with a folding engraved map and 5 engraved plates, one folding which is the first representation of Hawaii.

The first Dublin edition of the first published account of Cook’s last voyage, preceding the authorized version by three years.

This work is attributed to Lieutenant John Rickman, who served as second lieutenant on the ‘Discovery’, Charles Clerk, Commander. This is the first full account in English of Cook’s third voyage and has an important description of the death of Cook in Hawaii.It was first published in 1781, three years before the official account.

“This anonymous journal, of Captain Cook’s third voyage, was once believed to have been written by John Ledyard, who had actually made liberal use of Lieutenant Rickman’s account; hence the confusion. This narrative anticipated the government’s authorized account by two years. All the journals kept on board were claimed by the Admiralty, thus the author remained strictly anonymous. The text, especially as regards details of Cook’s death, differs considerably from other accounts.” Hill

Hill, 1453; Holmes 53; Howes R276; Streeter 3474.