PHILLIP, Artur (1738-1814) - The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay. London: John Stockdale Piccadilly, 1789.   First edition, first issue, of this fundamental work for the history of Australian colonization, published in London the year following the arrival of the First Fleet in New Holland. Admiral Phillip was commissioned to transport seven hundred and seventy-eight prisoners to Australia in 1787 in order to establish the first colony in New South Wales. This detailed account, compiled from Phillip's official reports and the diaries of other First Fleet officers, offers an overview comprehensive of the first months in the Port Jackson settlement, the initial exploration of the Sydney region, its indigenous population, natural history and landscape, including the Sydney settlement plan. The appendix provides a valuable list of transported prisoners, thus representing an important contribution to Australian genealogical history. The first issue is recognizable by the name "kangooroo" on the respective plate, later changed to "kanguroo".   4to (285 x 215mm). Engraved portrait of the author on frontispiece, engraved vignette on title, 53 engraved plates, some of which folding (frontispiece and title on guards and restored at lower margin, restoration to upper corner of A2, small marginal tear on plate "A view on Botany Bay" and in the "Martin Cat" plate not touching the engraving, small tear to the map of Norfolk Island and Sydney Cove, tear to the lower margin of H4 not touching text, some browning). Modern marbled calf, gilt triple fillet and phytomorphic border on covers, gilt decorations and title on spine label, gilt edges, gilt decorated dentelle, marbled endpapers (front cover detached). It was not possible to find a collation, the present copy is collated as follows: *2, *A4, 2*8, A6, B-P4, Q2 (-Q2), a-i4, k2. Provenance: removed bookstamp on title.

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Sold € 1,200