A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour - Sydney Parkinson

"A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour. London: for Stanfield Parkinson, 1773."

-1st Edition -Quarto (337 x 274mm) Large-paper copy

-Original calf binding with wide margins. Extremities rubbed joints cracking at head and foot of spine, headcap slightly defective revealing headband, front free endpaper

-Engraved portrait frontispiece, engraved map of the coast of New Zealand, and 26 further engraved plates (Complete plates)

-Plates III and XV and 2 page errata leaf supplied from a smaller copy

-Generally good condition but some spotting and toning, text with some faint staining and soiling

Parkinson's journal is regarded as the finest account of Cook's first voyage. Employed as a draughtsman, he drew the celebrated images of Australia and New Zealand, which are well known to this day. Tragically he died on the return to England, but his brother arranged the publication of this work. The work contains valuable South-Sea vocabularies and the first published use of the word kangaroo.