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Item #38115 A Chronological History of North-Eastern Voyages of Discovery; and of the early eastern navigations of the Russians. James BURNEY.
A Chronological History of North-Eastern Voyages of Discovery; and of the early eastern navigations of the Russians

A Chronological History of North-Eastern Voyages of Discovery; and of the early eastern navigations of the Russians

London: Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons ... for Payne and Foss ... and John Murray, 1819. Octavo. viii, 310pp., plus 2 engraved folding maps. Uncut and unopened.

Contemporary boards, repairs to joints and tips

First edition of a scarce work of Pacific exploration, which includes a first-hand account of Cook's death.

The present work, supplemental to Burney's great five-volume Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Seas (published between 1803-1817), concentrates on the discoveries and voyages made by all the main maritime nations in the North East Arctic regions, but also incorporates the author's earlier research into Russian discoveries. The author notes that his original intention had been to write a history of the maritime discoveries made by the Russians in all parts of the globe, but dismissed the idea as too broad. "Burney, who had sailed with Cook on his Second Voyage, was also on the Third Voyage ... The text includes Burney's own account of Cook's return to Hawaii in 1778-1779, Cook's altercations with the Hawaiians and his death. He quotes from his own journals and discusses several points not found in other printed narratives" (Forbes). Also included are accounts on the northwest coast of America and the passage through the Bering Strait, not found elsewhere, Burney offers a detailed discussion of the Russian discoveries, with accounts of English, Dutch, Russian and Danish voyages in the region. The two maps are of the north coast of Asia and Barents Sea.

Beddie 1657; Forbes 491; Hill 223; Holmes 82; Howes B1001; Sabin 9386; Streeter sale VI:3510. Not in Lada-Mocarski.

Item #38115

Price: $7,500.00

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