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 includes a sheet with multiple charts and four striking views of the Society Islands. Captain Cook and his crew first stopped in the Society Islands in 1769, and the islands became great favorites of the crew. The first sheet contains four well-engraved charts showing protected bays on the islands of Otahiti (Tahiti), Ulietea (Raiatea), and d'Huaheine (Huahine), with numerous soundings, shoals, and anchorages noted. It was engraved by Benard. The first print, also engraved by Benard, illustrates Cook witnessing a human sacrifice. A dance in a house on Raiatea is depicted in the second print, engraved by Palas. The third print, engraved by Benard, is a well rendered view of the harbor of Huahine with numerous native canoes and two sailing ships. The last view presents a religious offering upon an altar along with a couple natives, a sailing craft, and some lush vegetation.

A. Baye de Matavai a Otahiti [on sheet with] Havre d'Ohamaneno a Ulietea [and] Havre d'Owharre dans l'Isle d'Huaheine [and] Havre d'Oopoa a Ulietea, from Relation des Voyages Entrepris par Ordre de Sa Majeste Britannique..., circa 1780 (13.4 x 8.6"). Condition: On watermarked paper with faint offsetting and toning and separations along the centerfold, closed with archival tape. (B+)
B. Sacrifice Humain qui eut Lieu dans un des Morais d'O-taiti, from Troisieme Voyage De Cook, ou Voyage a l'Ocean Pacifique..., circa 1785 (18.3 x 8.9"). Condition: A dark impression issued folding on watermarked paper. (A)
C. Vue de l'Interieur d'une Maison dans l'Isle d'Ulietea. Representation d'une Danse a la Mode du Pays, from Relation des Voyages Entrepris par Ordre de Sa Majeste Britannique..., circa 1780 (12.9 x 8.0"). Condition: A nice impression with light scattered foxing that is almost exclusively confined to the blank margins. (A)
D. Vue de Huaheine, from Troisieme Voyage De Cook, ou Voyage a l'Ocean Pacifique..., circa 1785 (18.2 x 8.7"). Condition: A crisp impression issued folding with light scattered foxing, extraneous creasing, minor soiling, and a couple short edge tears in the top blank margin. (B+)
E. Vue de l'Isle d'Huaheine avec la Maison de Dieu, et un Petit Autel Couvent d'Offrandes, from Relation des Voyages Entrepris par Ordre de Sa Majeste Britannique..., circa 1780 (13.8 x 8.1"). Condition: A dark impression on a watermarked and lightly toned sheet. (B+)

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See description above.