COOK (James) - Lot 510

COOK (James) Cook's third voyage, or voyage to the Pacific Ocean to make discoveries in the northern hemisphere, to determine the position & extent of the west coast of North America, its distance from Asia, & solve the question of the northern passage. Executed under the direction of Captains Cook, Clarke and Gore on the vessels La Résolution and La Découverte from 1776 to 1780. Paris, Hôtel de Thou, 1785. 4 volumes in-4; illustrated with 88 plates hors texte (including fold-outs) in accordance with the table ((placed in scattered order, plate on page 424 of volume III not indicated in the table) and a fold-out table in fine. Contemporary fawn roots calf, spine ribbed and decorated, red title-pieces (absent in Volume I), black end-pieces (absent in Volume I), 6 headpieces torn off, headpiece of Volume I stretched, spotting in Volume I, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, double gilt fillet on the edges, wear and dull corners. It was during this final expedition, in search of the Northwest Passage, that the navigator died in Hawaii.