Sydney Parkinson
A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty’s Ship, The Endeavour
Faithfully transcribed from the Papers of the late Sydney Parkinson, Esq on his late Expedition with Dr Solander, round the World.
London: Printed for Stanfield Parkinson, the editor 1773. xxiii, 212p, [2]p errata & directions to the binder. Engraved frontis and 27 engraved plates including map of New Zealand. Large paper copy, 344mm x 275mm. Bound in later half leather [not recent] with gilt titles, original papered boards and endpapers, with the name Captain Sharpe 1834 on front endpaper. Contents, text mainly clean some offsetting from the plates. VG copy of a rare and important account.
As botanical artist for the Endeavor voyage, Parkinson produced many magnificent botanical and natural history drawings of Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. His untimely death near the end of the voyage resulted in a dispute between his brother Stanfield and Banks over ownership of his manuscripts and drawings.
When Hawkesworth learned of the impending publication of this work, he sought and received an injunction to prevent its appearance until sometime after the official account was issued. Hawkesworth went so far as to omit mention of Parkinson’s name from the official account, and even failed to give him credit for his botanical illustrations....

Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.