Author: Wilson, W. et al.
Title: A missionary voyage to the southern Pacific Ocean performed in the years 1796, 1797, 1798 in the ship Duff, commanded by Captain James Wilson, compiled from journals of the officers and the missionaries; and illustrated with maps, charts, and views, drawn by M. William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent artists. With a preliminary discourse on the geography and history of the South Sea islands and an appendix, including details never before published, of the natural and civil state of Otaheite; by a committee appointed for the purpose by the directors of the Missionary Society.
Description: London, T. Chapman, 1799. Large 4to (29.5 x 23.8 cm). cxix, 420, [xii] pp., 13 engraved plates and maps (most maps large, folded). Contemporary pebbled cloth. = Important geographical and historical account of the South Pacific Islands based on the first missionary voyage to the Pacific. No specific author is indicated on the title page, but in the advertisement it is stated that "the body of the journal is the composition of Mr. William Wilson, from the captain [James Wilson]'s papers, his own and the missionaries' reports". William Wilson also drew the fine plates and maps. The large map of Lesser Australia and Greater Australia shows that much of the south and north coasts of New Holland were still uncharted. Bookplate on the front paste-down, tiny old stamp on the front free endpaper recto. Spine cover perished, but the part with a gilt title loosely inserted. Front board and front free endpaper detached, text mostly clean; with only light spotting and toning; the plates more affected, and with some dampstaining in corners. A fairly good, complete copy. Cox II, p. 307; Du Rietz, 528; Kroepelin collection under Th. Haweis (Ed.), 528.

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