Dritte un letzte Reise, oder Geschichte einder Entdeckungsreise nach dem stillen Ocean, welche auf Befehl Sr. Großbritannischen Majestät, zu genauerer Erforschung der nördlichen Halbkugel unternommen .Ansbach, 1787-1789-[1794]. 4 (of 5) volumes. 8vo. With an aquatint/engraved portrait of James Cook as frontispiece in volume 1, 2 folding engraved maps and 41 engraved plates (1 folding). Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spines.

[51], [1 blank], CXXVIII, 320, [2], [2 blank]; [16], 462, [2]; [2 blank], [14], 452, [2], [2 blank]; [16], 400, [2], [2 blank] pp.First edition of a German translation of the official account of Cook's third and last voyage, here with notes by the German librarian Johann Ludwig Wetzel (1736-1808). Captain James Cook (1728-1779) had returned from his second voyage in 1775, and volunteered in 1776 for a third voyage, "with specific instructions to investigate the coasts of the north Pacific, and to settle once and for all the question of the northwest passage" (Howgego). He sailed from Plymouth with the Resolution and the Discovery, the latter under command of Captain Charles Clerke (1741-1779). Via the Cape of Good Hope, Tasmania and New Zealand they reached the Pacific Ocean, where they discovered and mapped several islands. After some natives had stolen one of the Discovery's boats, Cook came ashore with a small party. The meeting escalated and during retreat Cook was overpowered by some native inhabitants and killed. James King (1750-1784) and John Gore were now in command of the two ships, and started sailing back to Plymouth. The account of the last part of the voyage was based on King's journals. The folding engraved world map in volume 1 shows the routes of all of Cook's voyages and the map in volume 4 shows Kealakekua Bay with a nautical chart of Hawaii, Maui and Lanai below. An additional fifth volume was published in 1812, 18 years after volume 4, not included in the present set.With two tears in the engraved world map and occasional small spots or faint water stains. Binding rubbed along the extremities, corners worn. Overall in very good condition.l Beddie 1567; DuRietz 213; Forbes 127; Kroepelien KRO 0472; O'Reilly & Reitmann 440.