HAWKESWORTH, John

Relation des voyages entrepris par ordre de sa majesté Britannique, pour faire des découvertes dans l'hémisphère méridional, et successively exécutés par le commodore Byron, le capitaine Carteret, le capitaine Wallis & le capitaine Cook, dans les vaisseaux le Dauphin, le Swallow, & l'Endeavour. Paris, Vaillant, Nyon & Panckoucke, 1774. 4 volumes in-4 (250 x 189 mm) of 2 ff.n.ch., LXXX, 388 pp., 16 plates (numbered 1 to 16) engraved folding for volume I; 3 ff.n.ch., 536 pp, 16 plates (numbered 1 to 16) for volume II ; 3 f.n.ch., 394 pp., 1 f.n.ch., 17 plates (numbered 1 to 17) engraved for volume III ; 1 f.n.ch., VIII, 367 pp., 3 plates engraved for volume IV. Marbled calf, triple gilt fillet, spine decorated, marbled edges (period binding). Sabin, 30940; O'Reilly, 368; see Hill 782 (for the original English edition of 1773). First edition of the first French translation. It is decorated with 52 engraved plates. It contains the account of the first voyage made under the command of Lieutenant Cook (he was only promoted to the rank of captain upon his return to England), written on his notes by Hawkesworth. The 52 engraved plates show plans, views, maps, fauna and flora, and the inhabitants of Tahiti and other islands. One of the first illustrations of the kangaroo is included (volume IV). A very nice copy.