Rare oversized book: Atlas to Cook's Voyage, containing 64 engraved plates and charts, 16 x 21.75, bound in half brown leather with marbled boards, published in London in 1785. The imposing volume opens with a large fold-out 39.5 x 26.5 map of the world charting Cook's voyages, entitled "A General Chart: Exhibiting the Discoveries made by Captn. James Cook in this and his two preceeding Voyages; with the Tracks of the Ships under his Command." This is followed by another smaller map, "Chart of the NW Coast of America and NE Coast of Asia, explored in the Years 1778 & 1779," followed by 62 engravings portraying views from Captain Cook's third and final voyage, most after drawings by John Webber, the English artist who accompanied Cook on the expedition. A copyright notice at the bottom of the iconic last engraving, "The Death of Captain Cook," reads: "London: Published as the Act directs, 1 July 1785, by W. Byrne, No. 79 Titchfield Street, & J. Webber, No. 312, Oxford Street." In very good condition, with wear and scuffing to the covers, and light to moderate mottled foxing to the interior pages.
The complete contents:
1. “A General Chart: Exhibiting the Discoveries made by Captn. James Cook in this and his two preceeding Voyages; with the Tracks of the Ships under his Command”
2. “Chart of the NW Coast of America and NE Coast of Asia, explored in the Years 1778 & 1779”
3. “A View of Christmas Harbour, in Kerguelen’s Land”
4. “A Man of Van Diemen’s Land”
5. “A Woman of Van Diemen’s Land”
6. “An Opossum of Van Diemen’s Land”
7. “The Infide of a Hippah, in New Zealand”
8. “A Man of Mangea”
9. “A View of Anamooka”
10. “The Reception of Captain Cook, in Hapaee”
11. “A Boxing Match, in Hapaee”
12. “A Night Dance by Men, in Hapaee”
13. “A Night Dance by Women, in Hapaee”
14. “Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands”
15. “Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands, drinking Kava”
16. “A Fiatooka, or Morai, in Tongataboo”
17. “The Natche, a Ceremony in Honour of the King’s son, in Tongataboo”
18. “A Woman of Eaoo”
19. “A Human Sacrifice, in a Morai, in Otaheite”
20. “The Body of Tee, a Chief, as preserved after Death, in Otaheite”
21. “A Young Woman of Otaheite, bringing a Present”
22. “A Dance in Otaheite”
23. “A Young Woman of Otaheite, Dancing”
24. “A View of Huaheine”
25. “A Morai, in Atooi”
26. “The Inside of the House, in the Morai, in Atooi”
27. “An Island View of the Atooi”
28. “A Man of Nootka Sound”
29. “A Woman of Nootka Sound”
30. “Various Articles, at Nootka Sound”
31. “A View of the Habitations in Nootka Sound”
32. “The Inside of a House in Nootka Sound”
33. “A Sea Otter”
34. “A View of Snug Corner Cove, in Prince William’s Sound”
35. “A Man of Prince William’s Sound”
36. “A Woman of Prince William’s Sound”
37. “A Man of Oonalashka”
38. “A Woman of Oonalashka”
39. “Canoes of Oonalashka”
40. “The Tschuktschi, and their Habitations”
41. “Sea Horses”
42. “Inhabitants of Norton Sound, and their Habitations”
43. “Caps of the Natives of Oonalashka”
44. “Natives of Oonalashka, and their Habitations”
45. “The Inside of a Houses, in Oonalsahka”
46. “An Offering before Capt. Cook, in the Sandwich Islands”
47. “Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing Presents to Capt. Cook”
48. “A Man of the Sandwich Islands, Dancing”
49. “A Young Woman of the Sandwich Islands”
50. “A Man of the Sandwich Islands, with his Helmet”
51. “A Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, the Rowers Masked”
52. “A Man of the Sandwich Islands, in a Mask”
53. “Various Articles, at the Sandwich Islands”
54. “A View of Karakakooa, in Owyhee”
55. “A Man of Kamtschatka, Travelling in Winter”
56. “A Sledge of Kamtschatka”
57. “A View at Bolcheretzkoi, in Kamtschatka”
58. “A White Bear”
59. “A View of the Town and Harbour of St. Peter and St. Paul, in Kamtschatka”
60. “A Man of Kamtschatka”
61. “A Woman of Kamtschatka”
62. “Summer and Winter Habitations, in Kamtschatka”
63. “The Inside of a Winter Habitation, in Kamtschatka”
64. “The Death of Captain Cook”
