The Endeavour Journal of Joseph Banks, 1768-1771 (2 Volume set)

(Sydney, 1962): Trustees of the Public Library of New South Wales in Association with Angus and Robertson. First Editions. Octavo. 2 volume set. Color frontispieces. Volume I, xxvi, 476 pages, and 39 plates. Volume II, xvi, 406 pages, index, 2 page folding map, and 40 plates. A few plates in color. A well annotated text of the Endeavour Journal. In Volume I are Banks's observations on the Brazilian to Fuegian coast of South America and a remarkably full record on many aspects of the 'natural history" of the Society Islands (particularly Tahiti) and New Zealand. Volume II opens with his ever useful summary account of the Maori of New Zealand and is followed by the observations made along the eastern coast of Australia from Botany Bay to Cape York, an account of a brief stay in Sava n the Lesser Sunda group and one of a longer stay in Batavia on the island of Java and a shorter time at Princess Island in the Sunda Strait. The information is in depth, not only in the Journal itself, but in the footnotes in which other complementary historical sources have been combined with recent scientific knowledge to illuminate most fully Banks's observations. Appendices, including correspondence and additional manuscript material on Tahiti. A very handsome set bound in red cloth, spine lettered in gilt, a couple of corners only slightly bumped, previous owners small address label, in very nice unclipped pictorial dust jackets with very minute wear to spine ends and corners and fading to spines.