Lot 324: KEATE, George (1729-1797). An Account of the Pelew Islands, situated in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. Composed from the journals and communications of Captain Henry Wilson, and some of his officers, who, in August 1783, were there

KEATE, George (1729-1797). An Account of the Pelew Islands, situated in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. Composed from the journals and communications of Captain Henry Wilson, and some of his officers, who, in August 1783, were there shipwrecked, in the Antelope, a packet belonging to the Honourable East India Company. London: G. Nicol, 1788.

4υo (288 x 236 mm). Stipple-engraved portrait frontispiece, 14 plates (including 3 further stipple-engraved portraits) and 2 engraved maps and charts (one folding) (some staining to plates, creasing to folding map). Contemporary red morocco gilt, upper cover with border of fillets and Greek-key roll, flat spine richly gilt (joints with expert repairs).


FIRST EDITION. "In 1783, the Antelope, commanded by Captain Henry Wilson, ran onto a reef near one of the Palau Islands, a previously unexplored group, and was wrecked. The entire crew managed to get safely ashore, where they were well treated by the natives and eventually managed to build a small vessel from the wreck, in which they reached Macao. They took Prince Lee Boo, one of King Abba Thulle's sons, with them to England, where he made a good impression" (Hill). Cox II:302; Hill 907.