Lote

George Anson, A Voyage Round the World , in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. (1740-1743).

By George Anson, Esq; Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majesty‘s Ships, sent upon an Expedition to the South-Seas. Compiled from papers and other materials of the Right Honourable George Lord Anson. - WALTER, Richard, compiler-Published by Printed for the Author by John and Paul Knapton, London, 1748- Thick quarto, with strong impressions of all 42 folding engraved plates and maps, complete with the 12-pp. List of Subscribers and the single leaf directions to the bookbinder; contemporary English red morocco, ornately gilt, spine gilt in compartments between raised bands, gilt edges. This superb presentation copy of the greatest pre-Cook English voyage book, on large and thick or "Royal" paper and in contemporary morocco binding, was inscribed by its owner George Grenville, then Secretary of State for the Navy, and later Prime-Minister. "Given to me by Lord Anson 1748. George Grenville". The book, more fully illustrated than any similar work up to that time, was both a stirring story of adventure at sea and an exhortation to further Pacific enterprise (Glyn Williams, The prize of all the oceans. The triumph and tragedy of Anson‘s voyage round the world, 1999). PROVENANCE: Rt. Hon. George Grenville (subscriber to the royal paper copy), armorial bookplate, manuscript note on fly leaf ("Given to me by Lord Anson 1748 / George Grenville"); Duke of Buckingham‘s library at his Stowe Estate (sale 1848, lot 166, identified by the Grenville inscription); Archibald Philip, 5th Earl of Rosebery, armorial bookplate. Borba de Moraes, I, 32; Cox, I, p. 49; Hill, 1817; Kroepelien, 1086; Sabin, 1626.