FORSTER, JOHN REINOLD.

Observations made during a Voyage round the World, on Physical Geography, Natural History, and Ethic Philosophy. Especially on 1. The Earth and its Strata. 2. Water and the Ocean. 3. The Atmosphere. 4. The Changes of the Globe. 5. Organic Bodies and 6. The Human Species.

London, G. Robinson, 1778. 4to. Later (19th Century) hcalf. Raised bands, richly gilt spine. Fronthinge broken, but block fully intact. Stamps on title-page. (3),II,III,IV,(9-)649,(3) pp. 1 folded table, 1 folded chart. First leaves lightly brownspotted. Scattered faint marginal brownspots. Wide-margined.

First edition of Forster's own account on the second of Cook's voyages where he became the naturalist. When Joseph Banks withdrew at the last moment as naturalist on Cook's second voyage, Forster and his son were appointed to fill the vacant position. In July 1772 they set sail on the Resolution, returning to England in July 1775. During a stop in Cape Town, Forster engaged Anders Sparrman to act as his assistant. Both the Forsters kept detailed diaries of everything they saw on the voyage, and made extensive collections of both natural history specimens and artifacts. On his return Forster published the offered work.
"At the time of his death he was called the 'patriarch' of geography in Europe and was widely recognised as one of the most able naturalists. His influence on German science and scholarship was considerable. There was not one continent to which he did not devote some scholarly work." (Captain Cook Society).
Sabin, 25140.

Order-nr.: 54207