AUTHOR: JAMES COOK

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DATE: 1768-1771

PAGE #: 790

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS JOURNAL WAS WRITTEN BY JAMES COOK AND ENTIRELY IN HIS OWN HAND WHILE SAILING THE H.M.S. ENDEAVOUR FROM 1768-1771. IN THIS JOURNAL COOK ENTAILS THE VOYAGE OF THE H.M.S. ENDEAVOUR IN WHICH COOK DISCOVERED EASTERN AUSTRALIA AND CIRCUMNAVIGATED NEW ZEALAND. BOUND WITH THE JOURNAL IS A COPY OF A REPORT FROM JOHN HUTCHINSON, SURGEON OF THE DOLPHIN TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL WALLIS, 16TH MAY 1768. THIS REPORT IS THE OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF SALOOP, A PORTABLE SOUP MADE OF MUSTARD VINEGAR, DISTILLED WATER, AND BEEF FAT, ON SCURVY.

JAMES COOK WAS BORN IN 1728 IN YORKSHIRE. APPRENTICED TO A COAL SHIPPER IN WHITBY HE BEGAN TO LEARN THE SKILLS OF SOUND NAVIGATION AND ACCURATE CHARTING. IN 1755 HE JOINED THE ROYAL NAVY AND STEADILY ADVANCED. IN NORTH AMERICA HE TOOK PART IN THE SIEGE OF QUEBEC CITY AND BEGAN COASTAL SURVEYS OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEWFOUNDLAND. IN 1768 COOK WAS PROMOTED TO BECOME THE COMMANDER OF ENDEAVOUR BARK SENT TO TAHITI TO OBSERVE THE TRANSIT VENUS. THE ADMIRALTY IN ‘SECRET INSTRUCTIONS’ ASKED COOK TO FIND THE MYTHICAL SOUTHERN CONTINENT. IN 1769 COOK CIRCUMNAVIGATED NEW ZEALAND, CHARTED ITS COAST AND TOOK FORMAL POSSESSION FOR ENGLAND. ON 19 APRIL 1770 COOK SIGHTED ANOTHER COASTLINE. SAILING NORTH COOK LANDED AT BOTANY BAY. AND CHARTED 5000 MILES OF COASTLINE WITH GREAT ACCURACY. COOK TOOK FORMAL POSSESSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES FOR ENGLAND. IN 1772 COOK LED A SECOND EXPEDITION TO CONFIRM THE GREAT SOUTH LAND. IN 1777 COOK'S THIRD VOYAGE EXPLORED THE PACIFIC COASTS OF NORTH AMERICA AND SIBERIA. COOK WAS KILLED ON 14 FEBRUARY 1779 IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS (HAWAII). THE ENDEAVOUR JOURNAL WAS INSCRIBED ON UNESCO’S MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER IN 2001.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.