Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia.

King's important work on his voyages to Australia in a handsome contemporary binding. This copy has the often missing half titles, errata leaf, and final colophon. 'An essential inclusion to any collection relating to Australian coastal discovery' (Wantrup).

Phillip Parker King (1791-1856) undertook four voyages of coastal surveys of Australia, becoming the first Australian born hydrographer in the process, which combine to account for one of the great scientific contributions to Australian exploration. King extensively added to the mapping of the country and recorded much new information on wildlife and Aboriginal peoples. He had numerous encounters with the Wunambal people, describing their habitations, and the Makassans of Indonesia.

The extensive appendix, nearly 400 pages, contains the ethnographic and scientific material with contributions by John Edward Gray (1800-1875), Allan Cunningham (1791-1839), William Sharp MacLeay (1792-1865), Robert Brown (1773-1858), and Dr. William Henry Fitton (1780-1861).

Owned by George Frederick Dickson (1787-1859), noted British merchant and botanist who lived in Argentina for many years.

First edition; 2 vols, 8vo (22 x 14 cm); 2 folding maps, 10 aquatint plates including frontispieces, 3 line engraved plates including one folding, numerous further in-text wood-engravings including title vignettes, with the often missing half titles, errata leaf for both vols, and final colophon, armorial bookplate to pastedown of vol 2 and remains of bookplate to vol 1, discreet booksellers ticket to vol 1, a few very small marginal stains, one leaf reinserted; contemporary half blue roan, marbled boards, gilt flat spine, all edges speckled red, a little rubbed, a very good untouched copy; xxxix, [3], 451, [1]; vii, [1], 637, [3] pp.

Abbey, Travel 573; Ferguson 1130; Wantrup 207-212.