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.

A. A Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, in the North Pacific Ocean, with the Rowers Masked, from A Voyage to the Pacific, circa 1800 (7.0 x 5.0"). This attractive engraving from Cook's third and final voyage shows a Hawaiian war canoe filled with men wearing ceremonial gourd helmets and feather headdresses in the Kealakekua Bay. Cook explored Hawaii before heading north to explore the Pacific coast, where he tracked past the Bering Strait before being turned back by ice. The expedition then sailed south to Hawaii, where Cook was killed in a dispute with the natives at Karakakooa Bay on February 14th, 1779. Clerke, his second-in-command, took over the expedition and they surveyed further in Hawaii before returning north to continue the exploration for the Northwest Passage. Drawn by John Webber and engraved by Page. Condition: A crisp impression. (A+)

B. Homme de l'Isle Sandwich avec son Casque, by Cook/Benard, from Troisieme Voyage De Cook, ou Voyage a l'Ocean Pacifique..., circa 1785 (6.9 x 8.9"). This striking engraving by Benard was based on the work of John Webber, the English artist who accompanied Cook on his third and final voyage. It depicts Chief Kaneena in feathered helmet and cape. Kaneena died in the same conflict in which Cook was slain. Condition: Minor soiling in the margins. (A)

C. A Savage of the Sandwich Islands Dancing, by Cook/Webber, circa 1799 (5.0 x 6.9"). This engraving presents a dancing young warrior in a loin cloth with tattoos, fancy anklets, and a shield. Drawn by John Webber and engraved by F. Deeves. Condition: There is very faint dampstaining and remnants of hinge tape on verso. (B+)

D. Jeune Femme de l'Isle Sandwich, by Cook/Benard, from Troisieme Voyage De Cook, ou Voyage a l'Ocean Pacifique..., circa 1785 (6.8 x 8.9"). This engraving depicts a young native woman in a lei with a dreamy expression on her face. Engraved by Benard. Condition: A nice impression on watermarked paper with a couple small spots of foxing and light toning. (B+)

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See description above.