George Anson - Voyage autour du monde, fait dans les années 1740, 41, 42, 43 & 44. [28 planches] - 1764

Second edition of the famous travel account of around-the-world voyage by the English admiral George Anson from 1741 to 1744, a narrative that, published in 1748, was a 'best-seller' in its time, with numerous reprints and translations.

This copy includes 3/4 volumes and is illustrated with 28 beautiful fold-out engraved plates (views, maps, and plans).

Preserved in beautiful full calf marbled bindings, with spine decorated with gold tooling and gilt panels, small floral stamps, a contrasting title piece, and gilt initials, with red edges.
In good condition. Solid bindings with bright gilding. Some minor scuffs on the edges; on the cuts and corners. Interior fresh and clean, bright paper with no foxing or rare spots. A few tears (2 or 3 cm) on the plates (inner fold). The title page of volume III is slightly yellowed with a tear (no loss of text) in the lower margin.

Very beautiful specimen.

Anson's expedition was not an exploration like those of Wallis or Cook would be later, but a military operation conducted during the War of Austrian Succession against the Spanish colonies in the Pacific. Departing in September 1740 with six warships and two supply ships, Anson first led a convoy to the Caribbean, then headed south to round Cape Horn in the middle of the austral autumn, when the westerlies are at their strongest. It was an achievement with ships in poor condition, overcrowded, and with crews already significantly weakened by scurvy. Two of the ships turned back, one sank, and only three vessels sailed north along the Chilean coast, with crews reduced by two-thirds! After three months of rest at Juan Fernandez Island, Anson appeared off the coast of Peru, captured several ships, and sacked the small town of Paita. He then moved near Acapulco in hopes of capturing the famous Manila galleon, which he narrowly missed a few weeks later.

He then decided to cross the Pacific to China, and after a terrible journey via the Marianas, he arrived in Macau in November 1742 with a single ship and 210 survivors. Five months were needed to repair the ship and recover some men, and Anson left Macau in April 1743, ostensibly for England, but in fact with the idea of seizing luck this time and capturing the Manila galleon on his return from Acapulco. Lying in ambush off the Philippines, he was fortunate to capture it on June 20, 1743, and bring it back to China. He then returned to England in June 1744, with the prodigious treasure on board, which earned him a triumphant reception. He only brought back 145 of the men who had set out four years earlier: 4 men had died in battle and 1,300 from disease.

George Anson Anson
Voyage around the world, undertaken in the years 1740, 1741, 1742, 1743, and 1744.
Paris, by the Librairies Company, 1764.
3/4 volumes in-12 '(17 x 10cm), xxxiv + 268 pp + 9 plates / 194 pp + 9 plates / 227 pp + 10 plates