MISCELLANIES

London: J. Nichols, 1781. First Edition. Hardcover. Occasional foxing, heavy to a handful of pages; a few pencil notes to text. Near Fine. Quarto (8-1/4" x 10-3/4") in contemporary polished calf (rebacked, preserving original spine and labels). A curious and compelling collection illustrated with 2 maps, 2 portraits, and 5 tables. Includes "Journal of a Voyage in 1775 to Explore the Coast of America, Northward of California," with map, which, according to LADA-MOCARSKI 34, is the first and only contemporary account in English of the first Spanish voyage into Alaskan waters: "The Spaniards (and not they alone) were particularly secretive about any discoveries made by them in North America, and did not, of course, publish the journal herein described. Daines Barrington, however, secured a copy of the original manuscript of this journal and translated it into English, with certain omissions.... [This Journal] is the only contemporary account in English of this Spanish sea voyage." Also included are the important essay on "The Possibility of Approaching the North Pole," first published separately in 1775-76 and not published again until 1818, and one of the earliest accounts in English, reprinted from a 1770 volume of Philosophical Transactions, of the young Mozart complete with an engraving of the musician at the age of seven, the first published portrait of the prodigy. Other essays include a treatise on whether the turkey was known before the discovery of America as well as essays on the reindeer, the bat, the cuckoo, and botanical subjects. It is believed that through Barrington's encouragement, Gilbert White was induced to write the NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. HILL P. 15; HOWES B-177; NEW HOWES B-173 "DD"; SABIN 3628; STREETER 2445. Owner name of John W. Robertson dated 1926 on contents leaf; Arctic collector's large bookplate on the front pastedown.