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Burney, James (1750-1821) A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean.
London: Luke Hansard for G. and W. Nicol, et al., 1803-1817.
First edition, five quarto volumes; illustrated with 41 engraved maps and plates, most of which are folding, as well as numerous text illustrations; rebound in modern cloth, spines stamped with a black cartouche, ruled and lettered in gilt (offsetting from plates, two with reinforcements at versos; occasional foxing, scattered small stains and spots, dampstain to the outer edge of a few leaves in the fifth volume); 11 1/8 x 9 1/4 in.
This "masterly digest of the voyages of the South Sea, displaying a rare union of nautical science and literary research" spanning from 1579 to 1764, is considered one of the most important general histories of the Pacific Ocean predating the voyages of Captain James Cook. A great authority on Maritime history, Burney himself accompanied Captain Cook on his final two voyages and witnessed Cook's death in Hawaii in 1779.
