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Captain Cook

Shop rare books from Captain James Cook, the pioneering navigator who revolutionised Western understanding of the southern hemisphere.

Through his three monumental voyages, Captain Cook expanded European geographical knowledge of the Pacific, beyond the achievements of his predecessors, blending the art of navigation with scientific discovery. He left behind him a body of work including the official accounts of each of his voyages, the last of which includes a magnificent atlas of plates with stunning views of the South Pacific. Furthermore, the scientists and crew members who participated in the voyages produced numerous publications. Similarly, the artists accompanying Cook on his journey to the Pacific also contributed works, with Webber’s ‘Views in the South Seas’ standing out as the only published colour plate book related to Cook’s expeditions.

Browse rare books and first editions from Captain Cook’s voyages currently on our shelves now.

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  • Forster's scarce account of Cook's second voyage.
    Forster's scarce account of Cook's second voyage.

    FORSTER, Johann Reinhold.
    Observations made during a Voyage round the World, 1778.
    $7,866.00

  • First edition of John Marra's Journal of the Resolution's Voyage, the first published account of Cook's second voyage and the first printed account of the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle, with the rare extra map.
    First edition of John Marra's Journal of the Resolution's Voyage, the first published account of Cook's second voyage and the first printed account of the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle, with the rare extra map.

    [MARRA, John].
    Journal of the Resolution's Voyage, in 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. 1775.
    $12,996.00

  • Anniversary edition, 1 of 50 specially bound copies (no. 158), signed by Admiral of the Fleet Mountbatten, of Captain Cook's manuscript Anniversary edition, The Journal of H.M.S. Resolution 1772-1775
    Anniversary edition, 1 of 50 specially bound copies (no. 158), signed by Admiral of the Fleet Mountbatten, of Captain Cook's manuscript Anniversary edition, The Journal of H.M.S. Resolution 1772-1775

    COOK, James.
    The Journal of H.M.S. Resolution 1772-1775. 1981.
    $3,420.00

  • First edition of this edited collected voyages of The English Circumnavigators, pulling together the voyages of Drake, Anson, Dampier, Cook.
    First edition of this edited collected voyages of The English Circumnavigators, pulling together the voyages of Drake, Anson, Dampier, Cook.

    PURVES, David Laing and CHOCHRANE, R. (editors).
    The English Circumnavigators. 1876.
    $342.00

  • Hawkesworth's An Account of the Voyages for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, the fourth edition printed in Scotland with plates freshly re-engraved for this edition.
    Hawkesworth's An Account of the Voyages for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, the fourth edition printed in Scotland with plates freshly re-engraved for this edition.

    [COOK, Captain James]; HAWKESWORTH, John (editor).
    An Account of the Voyages for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, 1789.
    $1,300.00

  • Cook's third voyage, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, with the atlas and 63 engravings and charts, one of the most important English books published in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.
    Cook's third voyage, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, with the atlas and 63 engravings and charts, one of the most important English books published in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

    COOK, Captain James; KING, Captain James.
    A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean 1785.
    $20,519.00

  • The Courage and Perseverance medal was struck soon after word of Capt. Cook's death reached England in 1780.
    The Courage and Perseverance medal was struck soon after word of Capt. Cook's death reached England in 1780.

    [COOK, Capt. James].
    The Courage and Perseverance Medal. [1780].
    $12,996.00

  • A rare poetic outburst occasioned by the return of Captain Cook from his first voyage.
    A rare poetic outburst occasioned by the return of Captain Cook from his first voyage.

    [COATES, Rev. Charles?]
    Otaheite: a Poem. 1774.
    $12,312.00

  • A work of huge importance for the inclusion of Captain Cook's paper on the prevention of scurvy.
    A work of huge importance for the inclusion of Captain Cook's paper on the prevention of scurvy.

    PRINGLE, Sir John.
    A Discourse upon some late Improvements of the Means for Preserving the Health of Mariners. 1776.
    $20,519.00

  • First French edition of Zimmerman's account of Cook's third voyage which appeared three years before the official version.
    First French edition of Zimmerman's account of Cook's third voyage which appeared three years before the official version.

    ZIMMERMANN, Heinrich.
    Dernier voyage du Capitaine Cook autour du Monde, 1782.
    $13,680.00

  • One of the rarest items concerning Captain Cook's second voyage.
    One of the rarest items concerning Captain Cook's second voyage.

    WALES, William.
    Remarks on Mr. Forster's Account of Captain Cook's Last Voyage round the World, 1778.
    $27,359.00

  • After plate 60 in the official account of Cook's second voyage.

    [HODGES, W.] (after); BERNARD, [Robert] (engraver).
    Débarquement à Mallicolo l'une des Nouvelles Hébrides. c.1785].
    $2,052.00

  • The rare silver issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. One of only 322.
    The rare silver issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. One of only 322.

    [COOK]. PINGO, Lewis.
    Royal Society Cook Medal. 1784.
    $3,762.00

  • Rare oval variant of the well-known engraving of Cook's death, after an original oil painting of the scene by John Webber.

    WEBBER, John (after); BARTOLOZZI, Francesco (engraver) & BYRNE, William (engraver).
    Death of Captain Cook in February 1779, [1784].
    $9,234.00

  • Four proof plates before letters. Early states of images from Cook's last voyage, showing scenes in Hawai'i, Tahiti, New Zealand and Alaska.
    Four proof plates before letters. Early states of images from Cook's last voyage, showing scenes in Hawai'i, Tahiti, New Zealand and Alaska.

    WEBBER, John; POUNCY, B.T. (etching) & WOOLLETT, W. (aquatinting).
    The Inside of a Hippah in New Zealand; A Human Sacrifice in a Morai in Otaheite; Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Captn. Cook; Inhabitants of Norton Sound and their Habitations. c.1794]
    $12,996.00

  • A beautiful print from the earlier issue of Webber's Views in the South Seas, showing the island of Krakatoa

    WEBBER, John.
    View in the Island of Cracatoa. July 1st, 1789.
    $2,736.00

  • One of the most well-known images from the earlier issue of Webber's Views in the South Seas. The chief lies in state on the island of Tahiti.

    WEBBER, John.
    Waheiadooa. Chief of Oheitepha lying in State. July 1st, 1789.
    $2,736.00

  • A particularly fine copy of Webber's view of one of the ceremonial burial grounds on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga.

    WEBBER, John; THORNTON, John (engraver).
    View of a Fiatooka or Burying Place in Tongataboo. [1784].
    $2,394.00

  • Exceedingly rare. This was intended as a supplement to Coxe's Account of the Russian Discoveries published in 1780.
    Exceedingly rare. This was intended as a supplement to Coxe's Account of the Russian Discoveries published in 1780.

    COXE, William.
    A Comparative View of the Russian Discoveries with those made by Captain Cook and Clerke. 1787.
    $34,199.00

  • The bronze issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. Fellows of the Royal Society were entitled to a bronze medal, of which 577 were struck.
    The bronze issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. Fellows of the Royal Society were entitled to a bronze medal, of which 577 were struck.

    [COOK]. PINGO, Lewis.
    Royal Society Cook Medal. 1784.
    $2,052.00

  • James Cook Suirveyor of Newfoundland edited by R.A. Skelton, Reproduced in facsimile from the copy in the library at UCLA.
    James Cook Suirveyor of Newfoundland edited by R.A. Skelton, Reproduced in facsimile from the copy in the library at UCLA.

    SKELTON, R.A. (editor).
    James Cook Surveyor of Newfoundland 1965.
    $342.00

  • A fine engraving after a drawing by Webber which comes from the official account of Cook's third voyage, published in 1784.

    WEBBER, John (after); HALL, [John] & MIDDIMAN, [Samuel] (engravers).
    An Offering before Capt. Cook, in the Sandwich Islands. 1784].
    $2,052.00

  • The first French edition of Kippis's life of Captain Cook.
    The first French edition of Kippis's life of Captain Cook.

    [KIPPIS, Andrew;] J.H. CASTERA (translator).
    Vie du Capitaine Cook... 1789.
    $1,026.00

  • An attractively bound first edition set of Cook's voyages in Swedish
    An attractively bound first edition set of Cook's voyages in Swedish

    [COOK]. FRÉVILLE, Anne François Joachim de.
    [The three voyages of Captain Cook]. 1776, 1783, 1787.
    $4,446.00

  • First Spanish edition of Kippis's Life of Cook.
    First Spanish edition of Kippis's Life of Cook.

    [KIPPIS, Andrew]; NAVA PALACIO, Don Cesareo de (translator).
    Historia de la Vida y Viages del Capitan Jaime Cook. 1795.
    $2,052.00

  • The first French edition of Marra's journal of Captain Cook's second voyage.
    The first French edition of Marra's journal of Captain Cook's second voyage.

    [MARRA, John].
    Journal du second voyage du capitaine Cook, sur les vaisseaux La Resolution & L'Aventure. 1777.
    $3,078.00

  • The first French edition of Rickman's acccount of Cook's third and last voyage, which preceded the official account.
    The first French edition of Rickman's acccount of Cook's third and last voyage, which preceded the official account.

    [RICKMAN, John].
    Troisieme voyage de Cook, 1782.
    $3,762.00

  • The first French edition of Sparrman's account of Cook's second voyage.
    The first French edition of Sparrman's account of Cook's second voyage.

    SPARRMAN, Anders.
    Voyage au Cap de Bonne-Esperance, 1787.
    $1,095.00

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