Lot 3: PARKINSON, Sydney (1745-1771). A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in... -

PARKINSON, Sydney (1745-1771). A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour. London: for Stanfield Parkinson, 1773.

First edition of Parkinson's journal which remains the finest personal account of Cook's first voyage, with valuable South-Sea vocabularies and the first published use of the word kangaroo (p.149). Parkinson embarked aboard HMS Endeavour as Sir Joseph Banks's botanical artist - Banks spoke highly of Parkinson's 'unbounded industry' - but died in January 1771 on the homeward leg. Upon the ship's return to England, a bitter dispute arose between Parkinson's brother Stanfield and Banks as to the ownership of Parkinson's personal papers and drawings. As a result the publication of this edition was halted by an injunction which prevented further copies from being sold until Hawkesworth's official account of the voyage had been published. This copy has an interesting provenance, being in Admiral Keppel's library. A sailor from the age of 10, Keppel served actively throughout the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), before being promoted to Vice-Admiral of the Blue in 1778, in which capacity he commanded the British fleet at the Battle of Ushant in that same year. ODNB describes him as an 'outstanding' naval officer, 'especially in combined operations'. Hill 1308; Beddie 712, Hocken, pp.12-13; Holmes 7; cf. Forbes I, 82.

Quarto (305 x 249mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece, engraved map of the coast of New Zealand, and 26 further engraved plates, with two-page errata leaf (plates offset as usual, some sporadic spotting throughout). Contemporary calf (expertly rebacked to style, corners furbished). Provenance: Augustus, Viscount Keppel (1725-1786, naval officer and politician, Elden Hall armorial bookplate) – Royal Museum & Library, Salford Borough (blindstamps).