Lot 143: William Wales (?1734-1798) and William Bayly (1737-1810)

The Original Observations made in the course of a Voyage towards the South Pole, and Round the World, in his Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Adventure... Published by the Order of the Board of Longitude, at the Expence of which the Observations were made. London: printed by W.& A.Strahan, sold by J.Nourse, J.Mount and T.Page, 1777. 4o (290 x 237mm). 3 engraved plates (2 folding, 1 double-page), folding engraved chart. (Some offsetting to first folding plate, library stamps to recto and verso of title.) Contemporary calf (rebacked and recornered). Provenance : King's College, London (cancelled stamp on recto of title); Sale Bonhams June 24, 1997 lot 156 FIRST EDITION. The mathematician William Wales and astronomer William Bayly were appointed to Captain James Cook's second expedition by the the Board of Longitude. The present work, which was published whilst both authors were taking part in Cook's third voyage, records in detail their astronomical observations and is much enlivened by numerous explanatory comments and asides. The farthest south reading is recorded as 70o18' in the observation made for 30 January 1774 aboard the Resolution. Mitchell Cook 1287.