Voyage from New South Wales to Canton, in the Year 1788, with Views of the Islands Discovered

Thomas Gilbert

George Stafford for J. Debrett, 1789

Bound in contemporary mottled calf.  Binding rehinged. Housed in custom clam shell case. Case is half leather over hand made, copper colored marbled boards. Collated: Engraved title (Mathew's Rock) & 4 large folding plates (panoramic view of island coasts (Lord Howe, Mathews, Gilbert, Marshall, Chatham & other islands).  Half title, x, 85 p.  Scattered spotting. First edition of the first trading voyage to China from Australia.  Gilbert was First Fleet commander of the Charlotte, a convict transport, who continued from New South Wales to Canton to pick up a cargo of tea on the return voyage to England.    "The Charlotte, commanded by Captain Gilbert, was one of the first fleet of ships conveying convicts and settlers to New South Wales in 1787. Having landed their consignments of convicts... [and] making his way to Canton on a track lying many degrees to the east of that pursued by any of the circumnavigators, Gilbert and Marshall discovered many important islands, including the ones that bear their respective names" (Hill). Provenance: From the library of the Dukes of Manchester (Kimbolton Castle bookplate).  Refs: Ferguson 38; Hill 2, 702; Wantrup 18; ESTC T95545. Lust, J. Western books on China, 165 Notable islands described: Aranuka, Kuria, Abaiang and Tarawa.