A New, Authentic, and Complete Account of Voyages Round the World,

First Edition of this “omnibus” compilation of Cook together with Byron, Wallis, Carteret, Mulgrave, Anson and Drake. Printed in double column in “large new Types, constructed on Purpose to comprise much Matter in a little Compass” and issued in 80 sixpenny parts with avowedly philanthropic intentions, Hogg’s edition certainly did much to disseminate knowledge of Cook’s discoveries; “Some other editions of these Works, unnecessarily extended to many large Volumes by loose Printing &c. and published by mercenary Persons… would cost the Purchaser the enormous Sum of upwards of Twenty Guineas; so that many Thousands of Persons who would wish to peruse the valuable Discoveries so partially communicated to the World… have hitherto been excluded from gratifying their eager Curiosity; but this Edition is published in only Eighty Numbers at 6d each, making when complete either One or Two Large Handsome Volumes in Folio… The Poor as well as the Rich will thus become familiarly acquainted with these extraordinary and important Voyages and Discoveries” (Publisher’s Preface).“An important collection of English voyages... [which] sometimes gives the original accounts, others are edited or abridged versions, and frequently additional material from other sources are added to give scope and depth to the narratives” (Hill).

2 volumes, folio (395 × 260mm). Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards with vellum corners, somewhat worn and with some stripping of the marble from the boards, rebacked with the original spine laid down, new labels. Contemporary ownership inscription of Mrs. Harris to both front pastedowns, bookplate of Sybil and Arthur Colefax. With engraved portrait frontispiece and 156 other plates, maps, and charts including one large folding map showing the track of Cook’s voyages. . Light browning, the title page very slightly cropped into the imprint details, otherwise an unusually clean and wide-margined copy.