A journal of a voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty’s Ship, The Endeavour. Faithfully transcribed from the papers of the late Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks on his late expedition, with Dr. Solander, round the World.

London, printed for Stanfield Parkinson, 1773.Large 4to. Contemporary polished calf, skilfully rebacked, spine gilt with red morocco title label. With engraved frontispiece portrait by J. Newton, engraved map and 26 engraved plates. XXIII,212 pp. + errata leaf. First edition of the principal alternative account of Cook’s first voyage. - 'This is an account of the first expedition under the command of Captain Cook, 1768-1771. Parkinson was engaged as natural history draughtsman by Sir Joseph Banks, to accompany him and Captain Cook in the Endeavour to the South Seas. Parkinson made numerous drawings of botanical and other subjects, including landscapes and portraits of native chiefs. After exploring Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef, the expedition reached Batavia. On leaving for the Cape of Good Hope, Parkinson succumbed to fever and dysentery and was burried at sea' (Hill p.462). Parkinson's manuscripts and drawings became a matter of dispute. Banks considered that they were his, while Parkinson' brother Stanfield claimed them under the provisions of his brother's will. When Hawkesworth learned of the impending publication of this work, he obtained an injunction to prevent it appearing until some time after the official account. 'Although physically the most impressive of the unofficial narratives the work's merit lies in its sidelights on incidents during the voyage' (NZNB). The book includes important vocabularies of the languages of Tahite, New Zealand, New Holland, Savoo, Batavia (Low Malay), the coast of Malabar, Sumatra, Ceram, Madagascar, and of the natives on the river Gambia in Africa. This is the first work to identify the kangaroo by name, and Parkinson is the first professional artist to set foot on Australian soil. - (Some offsetting of the plates). - With armorial bookplate of Waldham Wyndham. - A very attractive large paper copy.Sabin 58787; Hill 1308; NZNB 4466; Du Rietz, Kroepelien, 944; Beddie 712; O'Reilly & Reitman 371