PARKINSON, Sydney (1745?-1771)

A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's Ship the Endeavour

London: Printed for Stanfield Parkinson, 1773. Large 4to. (13 3/16 x 10 5/8 inches). xxiii, [1], 22, [2], 212, [2]pp. 26 engraved plates, map, and engraved frontispiece portrait.

Contemporary polished calf ruled in gilt, edges tooled in gilt, spine gilt extra, gilt morocco label.

Provenance: John Smyth of Heath (bookplate on front pastedown)

Parkinson's important illustrated account of Cook's first voyage, with handsome plates and the rare explanatory remarks.

An attractive, wide-margined copy of the first edition of this important narrative, with the rare section of Explanatory Remarks by John Fothergill in a very fine contemporary calf binding. Parkinson accompanied Capt. James Cook on his first voyage to the South Pacific and New Zealand, serving as draughtsman under naturalist Joseph Banks. As botanical artist for the Endeavor voyage, Parkinson produced a large number of magnificent botanical and natural history drawings of Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. His untimely death near the end of the voyage while en route from Batavia to the Cape of Good Hope resulted in a dispute between his brother Stanfield and Banks over ownership of his manuscripts and drawings. When Hawkesworth learned of the impending publication of this work, he sought and received an injunction to prevent its appearance until sometime after the official account was issued. Hawkesworth went so far as to omit mention of Parkinson's name from the official account, and even failed to give him credit for his botanical illustrations. The present work stands as the most attractive of the unofficial accounts of Cook's first voyage. It contains extensive descriptions of Australia and New Zealand, and is the first work to properly identify the kangaroo by name. The handsome plates are from Parkinson's drawings, depicting natives of Tierra del Fuego, Tahiti, and New Zealand; scenes in Tahiti and New Zealand; and native artifacts. Also included are several vocabularies of South Sea languages. This first edition was published in 1773. Some years later, Stanfield Parkinson went insane and the unsold sheets of the book were sold to Dr. Fothergill, who added a section of "Explanatory Remarks" and a Postscript in order to counter Stanfield's ill-tempered preface. This copy includes this rare section of extra text, almost never seen with the first edition. This copy bears a distinguished provenance, with the bookplate of John Smyth of Heath Hall. Smyth (1748- 1811) had a prolific public career, serving as a Member of Parliament and the Board of Trade, a Lord of the Treasury, Master of the Royal Mint, and Lord of the Admiralty.

Beddie 712; Hill 1308; Holmes 7; Sabin 58787; Davidson, A Book Collector's Notes, pp. 54-6; NMM I:564; O'Reilly & Reitman 371; Kroepelien 944; Cox I, p. 58; Bell P100; Streeter Sale 2406.

Item #38163

Price: $17,000.00