London. John and Paul Knapton. 1748.
Leather bound volume: title page, Dedication, Advertisement, Contents, Introduction followed by 548 pages of text. Three folding maps are included in this, the Octavo Edition;
1. frontispiece map: A Chart Showing The Track of the Centurion Around the World approx. 10 x 16 inches (folded as issued, short tear at lower right corner where the map folds into the book, creasing to one central fold area from being folded, overall very good condition);
2. large map "A Chart of the Southern Part of South America (sheet 20 x 19 inches; approx. 4 1/2 inch tear at upper right fold from careless opening of the map, a few extra creases, improper folding);
3. A Chart of the Pacific Ocean has been misfolded with long splits along two folds; 1 1/2 inch tear at lower right where folded into the book;
Leather binding is very worn, hinges split but still firmly attached; bookplate has been removed from front pastedown which also has some ink marking; tiny area of worming affects lower inside edge of introduction pages. Tear entering text block of first text page; light creasing to lower left corner of first 30 pages, 3 3/4 inch tear to p 285 and 287, 365, loss to 2 inch section of margin on p. 415/416 The Royal Collection Trust describes this work which captured the attention of the British public and led to the publishing of many editions (of which this is the Second Edition) as "recounting the circumnavigation of George Anson (1697-1762) between 1740 and 1744. Occurring during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-8), Anson's voyage set off with the intention to harass Spanish shipping in the Pacific Ocean and notably captured a trade ship en route to Manila. Despite suffering setbacks from scurvy and losses of ships, the voyage was triumphant and Anson returned home with around £500,000 worth of treasure. In gratitude, Anson was granted the rank of rear-admiral and a project was initialised by Richard Walter (1716?-85) to publish an account of the voyage. This was written by the mathematician Benjamin Robins (1707-51), who had received Anson's patronage with regard to his own publications on artillery reform in the Royal Navy. Robins received £1000 for his efforts, while Walter was credited as author in recognition of his instigation of the project." The fascinating map of the world shows California as an island, and no eastern coastline to Australia, plus much other interesting detail. Item #56282

Price: $325.00