COOK'S VICTORY OVER SCURVY

COOK, JAMES.

The method taken for preserving the health of the crew of His Majesty's Ship the Resolution during her late voyage round the world (+) On the Tides in the South Sea (+) Observations made, by appointment of the Royal Society, at King George's Island in the South Sea (+) Extract from Capt. Cook's Journal (+) Transitus Veneris & Mercurii in eorum exitu e disco solis, 4to mensis Junii & 10mo Novembris, 1769, observatus.

London, Lockyer Davis, 1777.

4to. In recent marbled paper wrappers. Extracted from "Philosophical Transactions". Including title-page of volume 61 and 66. Leaves reinforced/mounted in margin. Light offsetting from folded plates as usual. Pp. (2), 401-406, 447-450, (4), 397-436 pp. + 3 folded plates.

Second appearance (but first journal-edition) of Cook's landmark paper on his successful measures taken against scurvy on his first two voyages. The paper was read to the Royal Society by its president, Sir John Pringle in the absence of Cook himself (on his final voyage). Cook was awarded the year's Copley medal award for the present paper.

"No commander before had been so particular about the diet of his men ... sour krout, mustard, vinegar, wheat, orange and lemon juice, saloop and portable soup were used regularly, and every chance of obtaining fresh vegetables and 'scurvy-grass' was eagerly seized" (Beaglehole pp 256-57

Cook's triumphs over scurvy soon proved to be one of the most important and influtial archievements in the general field of exploration.

Withbound are four other papers by Cook, all first editions.

Beddie 1288

Order-nr.: 57073