COOK, Captain James. Atlas Volume published alongside the account of his third and final voyage. [London, Strahan, 1784].
Imperial folio (58 x 40 cm). Contemporary half-calf over marbled boards; two large folding maps and 61 engraved plates; hinges a bit weakened and binding a little marked; internally, apart from one plate with marginal stain and small tear, rather good, with only light browning or spotting in places, the engravings in good and strong impressions on thick paper; contemporary bookplate John Bolton inside front cover.
The atlas opens with the very large (66 x 100 cm) world map General Chart: Exhibiting the Discoveries made by Captain James Cook in this and his two preceeding Voyages. This is followed by a map of the Bering Straight and adjacent coastline. The striking views from drawings by John Webber include depictions of Pacific islanders, coastal scenes of northwest America and its native residents, various artifacts, etc. 'Cook earned his place in history by opening up the Pacific to western civilization and by the foundation of British Australia. The world was given for the first time an essentially complete knowledge of the Pacific Ocean and Australia, and Cook proved once and for all that there was no great southern continent, as had always been believed. He also suggested the existence of Antarctic land in the southern ice ring, a fact which was not proved until the explorations of the nineteenth century' (PMM). - This is the early issue of the atlas, before the additional plate depicting Captain Cook's death, only found in the later issue of 1785. It is usually stated that this atlas volume was to illustrated the final voyage, but in fact id unites rich pictorial material relating to all three voyages.
Provenance: John Bolton was (1756-1837) and was a wealthy Liverpool merchant, slave-trader and slave-owner.
The atlas opens with very large world map. This is followed by a map of the bering straight and adjacent coastline. The striking views from drawings by John Webber include depictions of pacific islanders,coastal scenes of northwest america and its native residents, various artifacts, etc.
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