A Narrative of the Briton's Voyage, to Pitcairn's Island; including an interesting sketch of the state of the Brazils and of Spanish South America.

SHILLIBEER Lieut. J. (1817.)

£2200.00  [First Edition]

Available to view at our Curzon Street shop.

THE RARE FIRST EDITION

First edition. 16 engraved plates, one in bisque, several folding. 8vo. Contemporary quarter calf, uncut, small repair to title page. Interior pages browned and in a few places fragile. viii, 179pp. Taunton: Printed for the author by J. W. Marriott,

The rare first edition. Although the title page asks for 18 illustrations, only 16 etchings are listed in the direction to the binders and Shillibeer adds a note that 16 is complete. They are slightly naive but very beautiful etchings, all made by the author, showing, inter alia, a panorama of Rio, Kicker Rock (Galapagos), Pitcairn Island and a charming portrait of Friday Christian.

Upon reaching Rio, Shillibeer was "ordered into the Pacific to search for the American frigate Essex, then threatening British whalers" (Hill). The Marquesas, Juan Fernandez and the Galapagos were also visited during the cruise.

At Pitcairn Island, the Briton was boarded by a number of the locals with whom the crew discussed the infamous mutiny and life on the island; a conversation wonderfully documented by the author in a question and answer exchange. Though Shillibeer did not set foot on Pitcairn, he includes a Captain's account of meeting John Adams, the last surviving Bounty mutineer. Borba, p796; Hill, 1563.

Stock Code: 216128

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