Ledyard, John. A Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in Quest of a North-West Passage Betgween Asia and America; Performed in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, and 1779. Nathaniel Patten, Hartford, 1783.

Price: US$15000.00 + shipping

Description: 8vo,208 pp. Contemporary sheep, rebacked to style, leather spine label. Without the map ("particularly rare and . . . almost always lacking," Forbes), which is supplied in facsimile. The first American account of Captain James Cook's third voyage; it preceded the official publication by more than a year. Ledyard joined Cook's final voyage as a marine. He was one of several Americans on the voyage, but the only one to publish an account. All hands had been ordered to turn over any journals, other writings or charts, under threat of severe punishment. Ledyard consulted John Rickman's narrative but included details of the voyage which that account did not include. He was the first New Englander to visit the Pacific, and his book was the first work by an American to be published under copyright. Forbes 52; Hill 991.

Seller: Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books (ABAA), CHESTER, CT, U.S.A.