Breadfruit Engraving from Cook's first voyage

London: Strahan & Cadell, 1773. Copper engraving , folded, printed on watermarked paper . Impression size 12 ins x 14 ins. The work of John Frederick Miller (fl.1759-1794), the artist was employed by Joseph Banks to make drawings of some of the specimens collected on Cook's first voyage to the Pacific in the Endeavour. This image appeared as plate 11 in the official account of Cook's first voyage, An Account of the Voyages..., London, 1773. In Chapter VIII on Otaheite (Tahiti) there is a long description of the discovery of the tree and the uses of its fruit: "it must be roasted before it is eaten, being fully divided into three or four parts...". William Bligh, who sailed with Cook on this first expedition, returned to Tahiti in 1787 as commander of the Bounty specifically to gather the breadfruit tree for cultivation in the West Indies.
The condition is very good with the paper though folded being clean and crisp with a full margin. There is some light offsetting from the dark ink used in this obvious early pull of the plate.