Lot 2022: COOK'S FIRST VOYAGE.

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, sold by Messrs. Richardson & Urquhart [and others], 1773. Large 4to (335 x 265 mm). Edited by Stanfield Parkinson. xxiv, 212, [2] errata pp. Frontispiece portrait of Sydney Parkinson and 27 engraved plates (26 after drawings by the author). Period calf, rebacked, spine gilt. Occasional light offsetting of text onto the plates, binding with extremities rubbed, later endpapers.
Provenance: W. Askew, Newcastle on Tyne (armorial bookplate).

FINE LARGE-MARGINED COPY OF THE BEST PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF COOK'S FIRST VOYAGE OF 1768-1771. Parkinson was employed by Joseph Banks as the "botanical draughtsman," a position which he executed admirably. In addition he also executed a number of more general drawings: landscape, portraits, ethnographical studies and it is these which illustrate the present work. Sadly, Parkinson died on the homeward voyage, and the present work was edited and published by his elder bother, Stanfield. The genesis of this work was not easy: Stanfield had to battle against Banks, the Admiralty and Sir John Hawkesworth to get permission to publish the journal and Banks was reluctant to release any of Parkinson's drawings. In the preface Stanfield presents his version of events. As completed by his brother, Parkinson's journal gives a more lively and personable account of the newly discovered islands, people and languages than either Hawkesworth's account or Banks's own journal. Beddie 712; Hill 1308; Holmes 7; Sabin 58787.