A Voyage Towards the South Pole and Round the World

2 vols., 1777. First Edition, 4to, (290 x 240mm) Contemporary tan calf gilt, rebacked, with 63 engraved maps and plates.

The official account of COOK’S SECOND VOYAGE and his first as commander of the Resolution (1772-1775). The journey was undertaken in order to further explore the Southern Oceans and ascertain whether there were any further land masses in the southern seas.

Whilst doing this Cook was also to test John Harrison’s newly invented chronometer for the measurement of longitude. During the course of the voyage the expedition was to become the first to cross the Antarctic Circle, which it did three times.

“The success of Cook’s first voyage led the Admiralty to send him on a second expedition which was to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible in search of any southern continents. Cook proved that there was no ‘Terra Australis’ which supposedly lay between New Zealand and South America but became convinced that there must be land beyond the ice fields” Hill .

By the time these volumes appeared Cook had embarked on his second voyage (third voyage) in the Resolution, which was eventually to end in his death on Hawaii in 1779, killed after attempting to take a local chief hostage in return for a stolen cutter.

Hill 358. Beddie 1216; Holmes 24; PMM 223; Rosove 77.A1; Sabin 16245