Travel

in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV, Edited with an Introduction by Glyndwr Williams, b&w illustrations from contemporary drawings, prints and portraits, two folding maps at rear, bibliography, explanatory notes and index, xxvi & 402 pp, blue cloth (see picture below) in d/w, in very good condition, Oxford University Press 1974

23.3 x 14.9 cm, 1030g, ISBN 0 19255 402 6

See the description (below) from the dustwrapper flap.  The authorship of the book has always been in question, but the editor concludes that Walter, the Chaplain of Anson’s flagship ‘Centurion’, started to compile the book from his own journals with Anson’s collaboration.  However, Walter proved unequal to the task, and the book was edited and completed by the more experienced Robins, though he had not been on the voyage.

The book was published in 1748, and became a best seller, going through no fewer than 15 editions in the next 30 years.  This Oxford edition is the definitive scholarly edition, but is long out of print.  As always, American booksellers’ prices for this edition start at £66.55 . . . .