A Complete Set of Three Cooks Voyages in 8 Volumes] By James Cook, James King, John Hawkensworth,

 17.A uniformly bound complete set of Cooks first, second, and third voyages. In various editions ranging from 1775-1785. 

First Voyages (Vols 1-4) An Account of the Voyages undertaken by the order of His Present Majesty for making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour. 

Publication: 1785 Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell in the Strand. London  

The Third Edition by John Hawkesworth in Four Volumes

10 of 11 plates are present. Lacking “Chart of part of the South Seas” to the front title page of Vol 1

 Second Voyages (Vol 5) Journal of The Revolution’s Voyage In 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775 on Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere, by White The Non-Existence of an Undiscovered Continent, between the Equator and the 50th Degree of Southern Latitude. Also, a Journal of the Adventures’s Voyage In the Years 1772, 1773, and 1774 with an Account of the Separation on the two ships and the most remarkable Incidents that befell each. Interspersed with historical and geographical descriptions of the Islands and Countries discovered in the course of their respective Voyages. 

Publication: 1775 Printed for F. Newberry at the Corner of St. Paul’s Church Yard First Edition in One Volume. 

One folding engraved map of "Part of the Tropical Discoveries of the Resolution Sloop by Captain J. Cook in 1774" + an additional 5 engraved plates. Collated complete. This edition does not include the atlas; this official version was published before the edition with the atlas..   "The first printed account of man's entry into the region south of the Antarctic circle" (Spence) and the earliest published complete account of Cook's second voyage, issued at least eighteen months prior to the official version. "A rare work. Containing details of many events not recorded in the official account, and a preface recording the causes which led Banks and his staff to withdraw from the expedition at the last moment. Accordingly, it is a vital second voyage item." (Davidson).

Third Voyages (Vol 6-8) A Voyage To The Pacific Ocean Undertaken by The Command of His Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere to Determine The Position and Extent of the West Side of North America; its Distance from Asia; and Practicability of a Northern Passage to Europe. Performed Under The Direction of Captains Cook, Clarke, and Gore, in His Majesty’s Ships the Resolution and Discovery. In the Years 1776,1777,1778,1779, and 1780. 

Publication: 1784 Published by Order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; Dublin 

First Edition In Three Volumes 

26 of 27 plates are present. Lacks “Chart of Kerguelen’s Land with a Sketch of Prince Edward’s Island”

Overall Condition of Set : some wear along the edges primarily along the spine edges and corners, some fraying to the corners, all foldout plates present, only occasional and very minor foxing to some pages, text block somewhat stiff to volume 6, some small closed tears along the inner gutter of some foldout plates as common, other more significant closed tears are noted here: closed tear to foldout on volume 4 (a view of endeavor river), closed tears to foldout maps on volumes 6 ,7, 8- no loss,  overall a beautiful set. $12,500