This is the first German edition of John Hawkesworth's landmark An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of his Present Majesty for Making Discoveries int he Southern Hemisphere, and Successively Performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret, and Captain Cook, which was first published in English in 1773. Volume one features the explorations of Commodore Byron (1764-66), Captain Wallis (1766-68), and Captain Carteret (1766-69). The second and third volumes are dedicated to the account of Captain James Cook's first voyage to the South Pacific (1768-71). Included in the three volumes are 28 maps and 24 plates depicting natives, local scenes, artifacts encountered on these historic voyages, and a kangaroo. The maps included are:

A. Charte von einem Theile des Sud=Meeres, darinnen die Verschiedenen Farthen und Entdeckungen Angeqeigt Sind... (25.8 x 13.8")
B. Charte von Neu-Sud-Wallis oder von der Oestlichen Kuste von Neu-Holland Entdeckt und Untersucht vom Lieutenant J. Cook (30.4 x 14")
C. Carte de la Nouvelle Zelande (14.9 x 19.5")
D. Carte du Detroit de Magellan (29.5 x 18.5")
E. Carte de l'Isle d'Otahiti (15.9 x 9.2")
F. Port Gallant et Baye Fortescue [on sheet with] Port Famine [and] Baye de Wood [and] Baye et Havre de Cordes (14.5 x 8.2")
G. Havre Swalow [on sheet with 7 other bays] (14.5 x 8.2")
H. Cote depuiis la Baye d'York a la Baye et au Havre des Trois Isles [on sheet with] St. Davids Bay [and] Baye d'Elizabeth [and] Baye au Dessous des Isles vis-a-vis la Rade d'York (14.5 x 8.2")
I. Carte de Maidenland ou de la Virginie de Hawkins Decouverte par Sr. Richard Hawkins en 1574 (11.7 x 8.5")
J. Die Cocos Insel vom Cap.e Wallis, Boscawen Genannt (7.3 x 7.6")
K. Waliss-Inseln (7.2 x 7.8")
L. Vue du Cote N.O. de Masafuero (11.4 x 6.7")
M. Charte von der Insel Pitcairn (9.8 x 7")
N. Isles de la Reine Charlotte (15.2 x 9.2")
O. Swallow Bay [on sheet with] Havre Byron [and] Cote Septentrional de la Plus Grande des Isles de la Reine Charlotte (11 x 6.7")
P. Neu Irrland (12.7 x 8.2")
Q. Carte des Decouvertes du Cap.ne Carteret dans la N.le Bretagne (24 x 8.3")
R. Trois Vues des Isles de l'Amiraute (16.6.9")
S. L'Extremite Meridionale de Mindanao (7 x 7")
T. Vue de la Baye de Bonthain (11.4 x 6.8")
U. Carte de la Partie S.E. de la Terre de Feu [on sheet with] Plan de la Baye de Bon Succes dans le Detroit de le Maire [and land approach views] (14 x 11.9")
V. Carte des Isles de la Societe (17.1 x 11.6")
W. Baye de Matavai a Otahiti [on sheet with] Havre d'Owharre [and] Havre d'Ohamaneno [and] Havre d'Oopoa (13.6 x 8.5")
X. Carte des Isles Decouvertes aux Environs d'Otahiti (19.9 x 9.4")
Y. Riviere Tamise et Baye Mercure a la N.le Zelande [on sheet with] Baye des Isles [and] Baye de Tolaga (16.7 x 10.5")
Z. Carte du Detroit de Cook dans la N.le Zelande (10.3 x 10.6")
AA.Entree de la Riviere Endeavour [on sheet with] Baye de Botanique (13 x 5.2")
AB.Carte d'une Partie de la Cote de la N.le Galles Merid.le Depuis le Cap Tribulation Jusqu'au Detroit de l'Endeavour (13 x 11.5")

Vol. I: 459 pp., 17 maps & views, 4 plates. Vol. II: 408 pp., 8 maps, 14 plates. Vol III: 413 pp. 3 maps, 6 plates. Quarto, hardbound in original full leather with raised bands, gilt tooling, and red and blue leather title labels on spine.

References: Sabin #30942.

Condition: A

Overall the maps and engravings are clean and bright, with minor occasional soiling and offsetting, and short binding tears on 3 maps. Text is also clean and bright, with small damp stains affecting the fore-edges of a handful of pages. The covers are lightly worn and scuffed with bumped corners. The front cover is nearly detached on Vol. III and beginning to detach on Vol. I.