A Voyage Round the World by Way of the Great South Sea: Performed in a private Expedition during the War, which broke out with Spain, in the year 1718.

Second edition. Folding world map, title with engraved vignette, 4 engraved plates (2 of these folding). 8vo. Contemporary calf, rebacked, red morroco label and gilt lettering to spine; boards and extremities rubbed, corners worn. Paper repairs to title-page (re-margined, probably supplied from a smaller copy), modern endpapers. [vi], iii, [iii], 476pp. London, Pr. for W. Innys and J. Richardson,

The second and best edition, in which Shelvocke's spontaneous and sometimes salty language was greatly "improved" by his son who was a respectable civil servant.

The voyage started out as two-ship privateering expedition against the Spanish along the Pacific coast of America, before the vessels were separated in a storm. Instead of re-joining the other ship, Shelvocke continued along a different route to the West coast of South America. In his narrative of the Speedwell's adventures, he mentions both the gold in California and the large deposits of guano on islands off the Chilian coast. His account of California can be said to be "the fullest ... of any of the old voyages" (Cowan).

It was, however, chiefly written for self-vindication, as Shelvocke was accused of piracy and embezzlement on his return to England. It is thus tactically free of his more questionable exploits.

Wagner moots that the history of the expedition can be read as "...a curious commentary on the morals of the times. The English had passed out of the freebooting stage, strictly speaking, and were now eager to cover their privateering exploits with a little more clothing than in the preceding century".

Cowan, pp.581-82; Hill, 1558; Sabin, 80158; Spence, 1118, Wagner 88.

Stock Code: 204337