4to (268 x 208 mm). Half-title; 3 engraved folding maps. (Left portion of map of the north pole lacking, some browning and spotting.) 18th-century mottled calf, covers with central arms of the Dublin Library Society (rebacked, covers slightly bowed). Provenance: Anthony Browne (gift inscription to the Dublin Library Society on title-page); Dublin Library Society (inscription, stamps, binding); collector's bookplate, a few pencil marks.

FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH of Forster's important chronicle first published in Germany in 1784.  Forster, the German naturalist and scientist, accompanied Cook on his second voyage; he traces the development of Arctic discovery from the early voyages of Cabot in 1497 to French, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, and Russian voyages. He focuses particularly on the British voyages in search of the Northwest passage and around Hudson Bay.  Arctic Bibliography 5161; Cox III:22; Forbes 112; Howes F-269; Lande S785; Sabin 25138; Staton & Tremaine/TPL 528.