Dampier (1651-1715) was the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important British explorers in the period between Sir Walter Raleigh and James Cook.

Dampier was also a popular and exciting storyteller who inspired both Swift and Defoe. Dampier's greatest contribution to the history of discovery was to inspire his countrymen with enthusiasm to explore the Pacific and in the eighteenth century it was Britain which took the lead in exploring this part of the globe, culminating in Captain Cook's three great expeditions.

The work 'includes the narratives of Wafer and Funnell as well as the whole book of William Hacke. Dampier's accounts show him to have been a careful observer of everything affecting navigation and of the natural history of the lands he visited. His style is clear and simple, making his writings almost classical. A precursor of the eighteenth century, he was not interested in marvels but in examination and description of natural phenomena. Through his writings, Dampier made the profitable possibilities of the Pacific known' (Hill).

This collected edition of Dampier's works is considered the best scholars' edition.

First collected edition. 4 volumes, 8vo., [x], vi, 550, [iv]; [viii], 184, 1-132, [iv], 1-112, [lxxvi]; [xvi], 463 (but 475), [ix]; [xvi], 208, [viii], 1-175, [ix]pp., additional title page, individual title pages for each volume, separate title page for parts II-V of vol. 4, 63 plates and maps, some folding, contemporary sprinkled calf, rebacked preserving spines, later labels, a little light soiling and toning to text, a very good set.