An Account of Several Late Voyages and Discoveries: I. Sir John Narborough’s Voyage to the South Sea… II. Captain J. Tasman’s Discoveries on the Coast of the South Terra Incognita. III. Captain J. Wood’s Attempt to Discover a North-East Passage to China. IV. F. Marten’s Observations made in Greenland, and other Northern Countries. To which are added, a Large Introduction and Supplement, containing short abstracts of other Voyages into those Parts, and Brief Descriptions of them. The Whole Illustrated with Exact Charts, and Curious Figures.

Second and Best Edition, 19 engraved plates of views and natural history images (many folding), folding “Chart of the western and southern oceans”, folding chart of Terra del Fuego, folding pole map, contemporary panelled calf gilt, red Morocco label, hinges repaired, 8vo (200 x 135mm), London: Printed for D. Brown without Temple-Bar, J. Round in Exchange-Ally, W. Innys in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, and T. Ward in the Temple-Lane, 1711.

Second and best edition, with the additional chart of the Western and Southern oceans which did not appear in the earlier edition.

‘The book is of greatest importance to an Australian collection, as it contains one of the earliest English accounts of Abel Janszoon Tasman’s famous voyage of 1642 from Batavia, in which he discovered Tasmania and New Zealand and visited Tonga and Fiji’ (Hill).

An English naval commander, (Rear-Admiral Sir) John Narborough (c.1640–1688) served with distinction in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and against the Barbary Coast pirates. After peace was declared with the Dutch, Narborough was given the command of an expedition to the South Seas departing England on 26 September 1669, before sailing through the Straits of Magellan and into the Pacific in October of the following year. His charts of the Straits of Magellan were a great improvement on those of previous navigators and were used by Bulkeley and Cummins following the wreck of the Wager.

Bookplate of Godfrey Bosville