Lot 52: JOHANN REINHOLD FORSTER (1729-1798)

Observations made during a Voyage round the World, on Physical Geography, Natural History and Ethic Philosophy. London: for G.Robinson, 1778. 4o (271 x 216mm.). 1p. subscribers' list at end. 1 folding letterpress table, folding engraved map. (Neat small repair to folding table.) Contemporary calf (rebacked to style, one original lettering-piece laid down, corners neatly repaired). PROVENANCE: William Bartlett (armorial bookplate). FIRST EDITION. 'Forster accompanied Cook as naturalist on his second voyage. An account is given of the countries visiited in 1772-5, but for the most part this work concerns the South Sea Islands. The observations concerning the "human species" are particularly interesting... The last section presents a detailed evaluation of steps taken for the preservation of health on the voyage, notably the suggestions of James Lind. Forster deals at considerable length with the health and diseases of the South Sea islanders. He discusses venereal disease... and suggests that it was endemic in the islands, thus removing the reproach that it was introduced by the crews of Bougainville, Byron, and Wallis' (Hill). Conrad p.12; Hill p.109; Mitchell 1262; Rosove 140.A1 ('Very scarce'); Spence 467.