Captain James Cook (1728-1779) is best known for his three voyages to the Pacific (1768-71; 1772-75; and 1776-79). His discoveries radically changed the western understanding of the world in the late 18th century. He was the first to circumnavigate and chart New Zealand and provided the earliest European accounts of exploration along the eastern coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. On February 14th, 1779, he was killed on Hawaii after attempting to kidnap the chief of the island.

Many contemporary accounts of Cook’s voyages, including charts and engravings, appeared in the late 18th century. The first official account of Cook’s first voyage was published in 1773 by John Hawkesworth in Volumes II and III of An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere... William Strahan and Thomas Cadell published the first official accounts of the second and third voyages in 1777 and 1784. Accounts of his exploration were subsequently translated into French, German, and Dutch.

This lot of three engravings are based on Captain Cook's explorations in Alaska during his third and final voyage. The first print is based on a larger engraving from Cook's voyages and shows a grinning polar bear. Engraved by Grainger. The latter two prints depict native women from Prince William Sound and Unalaska Island, respectively, with their unique hairstyles and piercings. Both of these prints were engraved by Benard.

A. The Large White Bear Found on the Ice, as Also on the Shores of the North West Coast of America, by George Alexander Cooke, from Modern & Authentic System of Universal Geography, circa 1801 (6.9 x 5.0").
B. Une Femme de l'Entree du Prince Guillaume, by Cook/Benard, from Troisieme Voyage De Cook, ou Voyage a l'Ocean Pacifique..., circa 1785 (6.7 x 8.8").
C. Une Femme de Oonalashka, Cook/Benard, from Troisieme Voyage De Cook, ou Voyage a l'Ocean Pacifique..., circa 1785 (6.8 x 8.9").

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Condition: A

All are nice impressions, and the first and third are on watermarked sheets. There are a couple minor spots in the last image as well as marginal foxing.