ANDERSON, George William.
A New, Authentic, and Complete Collection of Voyages Round the World . Undertaken and Performed by Royal Authority. Containing a New, Authentic, Entertaining, Instructive… Account of Captain Cook's First, Second, Third and Last Voyages… and now publishing under the immediate direction of George William Anderson, Esq.
London, Printed for Alex. Hogg, at the Original Kings’ Arms, 1784- 1786.
Folio, with 80 engraved maps, plans and views; contemporary diced Russia, rebacked, bottom margin of title-page slightly shaved; a handsome copy with the original list of subscribers at end.
A popular single-volume edition of Cook's Voyages, in a format that manages to squeeze over a million words into the one volume. Anderson states that he was 'assisted, very materially, by a Principal Officer who sailed in the Resolution… and by other Gentlemen of the Royal Navy', and the work contains some particulars not found in the official account. Anderson adds various other classic English voyages: Wallis, Carteret, Mulgrave, Anson and Drake.
Anderson modestly observes that 'some other Editions of these Works (unnecessarily extended to many large volumes, by loose printing, blank paper, and other artifices, practised by many mercinary persons) would cost the purchaser the enormous sum of upwards of Twenty Guineas; so that the thousands of persons who would wish to peruse the valuable discoveries so partially communicated to the world, and view the astonishing fine copper plates, have hitherto been excluded from gratifying their eager curiosity; This Edition, being published in only Eighty Six-penny Numbers (making, when completed, One Large Handsome Volume in Folio) enables every person, whatever may be his circumstances, to become familiarly acquainted with those extraordinary and important voyages and discoveries… and the obvious intention of the King and Government, that the Improvements and Discoveries… might be communicated to the whole world, will of course be more fully answered'.
Beddie, 19 (but imprint varies); Hill, 18; Holmes (first edition), 54.
Australian: $11,250 (Approx. US $7202, Euro €5756) Quote ref.
