Lot 11694: Captain Cook - Otago

First edition print from Cook's second voyage on which he was directed to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible to search for any southern continent. William Hodges (1744 - 1797) joined Cook's second expedition to the South Pacific as a draughtsman 1772-75 and was employed by the Admiralty in finishing his drawings. Two portraits from his time in Tonga, both in red chalk, are known. This portrait is of Otago (Ataongo) son of one of the leading chieftains of Tonga, and who was a constant companion of Cook during his visit to the island.

This fascinating, first edition folio engraving is from Captain James Cook & James King's A Voyage towards the South Pole, and Round the World. Performed in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Adventure, In the years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. In which is included Captain Furneaux's Narrative of his Proceedings in the Adventure during the Separation of the Ships. The work was published in London by Strahan and Cadell in 1777. It is the official account of Cook's second voyage on which he was directed to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible to search for any southern continent.

"The famous accounts of Captain Cook's three voyages form the basis for any collection of Pacific books. In three great voyages Cook did more to clarify the geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere than all his predecessors had done together. He was really the first scientific navigator and his voyages made great contributions to many fields of knowledge." (Hill)

"Cook earned his place in history by opening up the Pacific to western civilization and by the foundation of British Australia. The world was given for the first time an essentially complete knowledge of the Pacific Ocean and Australia, and Cook proved once and for all that there was no great southern continent, as had always been believed. He also suggested the existence of antarctic land in the southern ice ring, a fact which was not proved until the explorations of the nineteenth century." (Printing and the Mind of Man p.135)

"The success of Cook's first voyage led the Admiralty to send him on a second expedition, which was to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible in search of any southern continents ... the men of this expedition became the first to cross the Antarctic Circle. Further visits were made to New Zealand, and on two great sweeps Cook made an astonishing series of discoveries and rediscoveries including Easter Island, the Marquesas, Tahiti and the Society Islands, Niue, the Tonga Islands, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and a number of smaller islands. Rounding Cape Horn, on the last part of the voyage, Cook discovered and charted South Georgia, after which he called at Cape Town, St. Helena and Ascension, and the Azores ... This voyage produced a vast amount of information concerning the Pacific peoples and islands, proved the value of the chronometer as an aid to finding longitude, and improved techniques for preventing scurvy." (Hill p.123)

~ 15" by 21 1/4"; Image size ~ 8 1/4" by 11"

Folio Engraving

1777

The work is in good to very good condition overall. The images have been trimmed down past the plate mark and mounted to a seperate piece of paper. There may be some imperfections to expect with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

A Voyage towards the South Pole, and Round the World. Performed in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Adventure, In the years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. In which is included Captain Furneaux's Narrative of his Proceedings in the Adventure during the Separation of the Ships