Lot 2144: WILSON, WILLIAM.

A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean, performed in the years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff.... London: printed by S. Gosnell, for T. Chapman, 1799.
4to (297 x 233 mm). [12], c, 420, [12] pp subscribers list. 13 engraved plates, maps and charts (7 maps and charts [five folding], 6 plates). Period calf gilt. Plates and maps spotted and toned, some browning to facing text pages, two of the folding maps with clean tears, a third shaved with loss to the imprint, binding rebacked preserving original lettering-piece, slightly scuffed.

A LARGE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION of the official account of the voyage sponsored by the London Missionary Society for the purpose of establishing a mission at Tahiti: the Duff was the first missionary vessel to sail the Pacific Ocean. After initial success, the 25 settlers faced increasing difficulties including a local civil war, and were finally forced to flee to Australia. ESTC records two different editions of this work, with apparently identical titles and published in the same year: the present Gosnell edition has 420 pages of main text and 12 pages of subscribers and is listed first by ESTC; the edition printed by "T. Chapman" has 395 pages of main text, and only 8 pages of subscribers. ESTC T87461.