Journal of H.M.S. Endeavour 1768-1771.

one of 50 copies specially bound by Zaehnsdorf and signed by Admiral of the Fleet Mountbatten

The full facsimile of the Admiralty's copy of Captain Cook's manuscript journal for his first voyage, in which he sailed to Tahiti and on to Australia and New Zealand. It was this voyage which Britain used to stake claim to, and annex, Australia and New Zealand.

The Admiralty copy of Cook's journal is considered by the Cook authority J.G. Beaglehole as 'the best and most careful, as it is the only fair copy that exists'. Preceding the journal is a number of essays about the manuscript, Captain Cook, Joseph Banks, the artists of the Endeavour, Daniel Solander (the astronomer), and the transit of Venus observed during the voyage.

Cook's instructions for this first voyage were to observe the transit of Venus from Tahiti and to carry on John Byron's survey and examination of the seas between Cape Horn and New Holland (i.e. Australia). He did so, and continued from Tahiti to New Zealand, which he circumnavigated in a figure of eight so as to chart the whole coastline of both major islands. He proceeded to discover the Southeast of Australia which he named New South Wales, nearly running aground on the Great Barrier Reef in the process, and adding some 5,000 miles of coastline to Admiralty charts.

Anniversary edition, 1 of 50 specially bound copies (no. 158), signed by Admiral of the Fleet Mountbatten; folio, (35 x 25 cm); signed by Mountbatten to edition page, 40 off-set lithograph plates, 10 of which in colour, and 15 further illustrations including folding chart; original full red morocco by Zaehnsdorf, boards ruled and framed in gilt with a gilt vignette of Endeavour to upper board and facsimile James Cook signature to lower board, gilt inner dentelles, spine in six elaborately gilt compartments, all edges gilt, housed in original clamshell case with gilt vignette of Endeavour to upper cover, gilt morocco lettering piece to spine, with a touch of rubbing, a fine copy.