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ANSON, GEORGE.: A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD in the years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. By GEORGE ANSON, Commander in Chief of a squadron of His Majesty's Ships, sent upon an expedition to the South-Seas. Compiled from his papers and materials by Richard Walter.
London, W. Bowyer and J. Nichols (and 15 others), 1776. Fifteenth edition (first published in 1748), 4to, 290 x 220 mm, 11½ x 8¾ inches, 41 of 42 listed copper engraved plates, consisting of naval scenes, views of islands and coastlines, 1 of sea-lions, maps, plans and charts, all but 1 folding, LACKING is No. 41 A chart of the Pacific Ocean, from the equinoctial, to the latitude of 39½ degrees North, BUT PRESENT is the often lacking folding frontispiece map showing the track of the Centurion round the world, which although not called for in the plate list was included from the fifth edition onwards as a frontispiece, this shows North America and Australia partially delineated and California as an island, pages xx, 417 (3), bound in full contemporary calf, rebacked to style with blind rules and gilt lettered morocco label, original endpapers retained. This 4to edition is not to be confused with the 8vo edition of the same date which had only 3 maps and no engraved plates. Covers slightly worn, corners slightly chipped and showing card at tips, faint modern inscription to front endpaper, frontispiece map lightly foxed at inner edge, slight foxing and small repair to inner margin of title page, occasional very light foxing within, mainly to margins, small closed tear to 1 lower margin repaired, 3 plates misfolded, 2 slightly browned in fore-edge margin and with tiny chip to 1 corner, 1 trimmed at fore-edge margin which has 3 very short closed tears, strengthened neatly at edge with old paper on reverse, 1 protruding slightly from text block, 1 plate slightly worn at lower edge and missing a small narrow piece at outer corner, 1 plate has diagonal crease, 5 plates slightly foxed, 1 plate lightly foxed all over, slight offsetting of text onto 1 plate, small neat repairs to reverse of 2 large folding maps, no loss of image, small hole in margin of 1 map. Binding tight and firm. A good clean copy of the 4to edition, (lacking Plate 41 as mentioned). While Great Britain was at war with Spain in 1740, Commodore George Anson led a squadron of eight ships on a mission to harass the Spaniards on the west coast of South America and cut off their supplies of wealth from the Pacific. Returning to England in 1744 by way of China and thus completing a circumnavigation, the voyage was notable for the capture of the gold-laden Acapulco galleon but also for the loss of all ships except Anson's Centurion and horrific losses to disease with only 300 of the original 900 men surviving. This is the official account of the circumnavigation compiled from Anson's papers by Richard Walter, chaplain on board the Centurion. “Anson's voyage is remembered as a classic tale of endurance and leadership in the face of fearful disasters, but to the British public of 1744 it was the treasure of the galleon, triumphantly paraded through the streets of London, which did something to restore national self-esteem battered by an unsuccessful war” (ODNB). Sabin 1629; Howgego, Encyclopedia of Exploration, I, A100; Hill I, pp. 317-18; National Maritime Museum I, 114. Images sent on request.
Offered for GBP 795.00 = appr. US$ 1300.62 by: Roger Middleton - Book number: 5560