Journal du second voyage du capitaine Cook, sur les vaisseaux La Résolution & L'Aventure ; entrepris par ordre de S. M. Britannique, dans les années 1774 & 1775 [traduit par A.F.L. Fréville]

Rare first edition of the French translation of the Journal of the Resolution (London, 1775), illustrated with a large folding copper-engraved map by E. Dussy, issued without legend.

Cf. O'Reilly & Reitman, 380: "Traduction de la relation apocryphe de Marra". See Hill, 60.

Scattered occasional foxing, a few abrasions to the boards.

Contemporary full marbled tan sheep, spine in five raised bands richly decorated with double gilt compartments, gilt fillets to bands partly rubbed, red morocco lettering-piece, gilt decorative tool at foot of spine, gilt rolls to board edges largely rubbed, marbled endpapers, single gilt fillet to edges, corners worn, marbled edges.

This is an apocryphal account of Cook's second voyage, issued anonymously eighteen months before the official edition.

The author was John Marra, one of the Irish gunners aboard the Resolution; Cook had previously taken him aboard the Endeavour at Batavia during his first voyage.

O'Reilly notes that the work contains observations and incidents omitted from the official edition.

Conversely, Sir Maurice Holmes (An Introduction to the Bibliography of Captain James Cook, London, 1936, and Captain James Cook. A Bibliographical Excursion, London, 1952) considered it to be a curious compilation.

As Marra was incapable of composing any narrative account himself, his contribution was therefore confined to factual extracts from his journal; the greater part of the work having been supplied by his editor, who expanded the volume with geographical descriptions drawn from accounts of Cook's first voyage and other sources.

Copy from the library of Alberto Stradelli, with his bookplate mounted on the pastedown.