The journals of Captain James Cook

The standard modern scholarly edition of Cook's voyages. This publication represents the first time that Cook's journals were comprehensively and accurately presented to the public, and to do so required enormous research since copies and fragments of the journals and related material were scattered in various archives in London, Australia and New Zealand. For his edition, Beaglehole sought out the various surviving holographs in Cook's own hand in preference to copies by his clerks on board ship, and others.

As well as Cook's own journals Beaglehole also printed, either entire or in lengthy extracts, the journals of several of Cook's colleagues on the voyages. The introductions themselves, together with copious footnotes, reveal the breadth of his erudition. They cover many topics, ranging from the structure of Polynesian society to oceanography, navigation, cartography, and much else.

Hakluyt Society extra series: 34a, 34b, 35, 36a, 36b, 37; 4 vols royal 8vo text & small folio portfolio atlas; numerous maps & illustrations throughout, original blue cloth gilt, original dust wrappers (except atlas), a very good set.

Hill 86 (Life) & 367.