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The account of a voyage of a Swedish privateer together with a vivid travelaccount on Germany
MORTIMER, George.Engelsmannen Joh. Hindric Cox Resa Genom Söderhafvet Till On Amsterdam, Marien-Oarna, O-Taheiti, Sandvichs-och Räf-Oarna, Tinian, Unalaska och Canton i China.     Nyköping, Peter Winge, 1798. 2 parts in 1 vol. 8vo. Contemporary half calf, spine gilt. 77, (3 blank) pp. With: (2) RISBECK, Gaspard. Bref, Rörande Tyskland, Scrifne af en resande Fransos til sin broder i Paris. Ofwersättning. Andra Uplagan. Götheborg, Samuel Norberg, 1797-1798. 416; 381 pp. Ad 1: Rare first Swedish edition of George Mortimer's account: 'Observations and remarks made during a voyage to the islands of Teneriffe, Amsterdam, Maria's Islands near Van Diemen's Land, Otaheite, Sandwich Islands, Owhyhee, the Fox Islands on the north of the west coast of America, Tinian, and from thence to Canton, in the brig "Mercury", commanded by J.H. Cox', first published at London and Dublin in 1791. The Swedish translation is somewhat condensed, probably made after the German version, by Carl Fr. Landell, who added a preface and some footnotes. The voyage by John Hendric Cox has long been rather mysterious, especially regarding the motive of the voyage. Now it has been established that the "Mercury" was in fact "Gustaf III", a privateer sailing under the Swedish flag sent by the King of Sweden to attack Russian fur trade settlements in the North Pacific, during the war between Russia and Sweden in 1788-1790. The present account is also of Cook interest. Mortimer, who had been a lieutenant aboard the ship, refers to Cook's voyages, and gives a description of the village of Kowrowa, the spot where Cook was killed. The book further contains a very interesting relation of the Russian establishment at Unalaska, and an account of the collecting of sealskins and oil on Amsterdam Island. It was translated into several languages, but especilly the German and Swedish editions are very rare. Ad 2: Swedish edition of a famous book of letters on Germany, written by a German author, Gaspard Risbeck (ca. 1750-1786), during his stay at Zürich in Switzerland. The book became immensely popular and made the author famous. For a right understanding of this popularity one must remember that in Germany in the period before the French Revolution liberalism was still unheard of. In the form of letters supposedly written by a Frenchman during a voyage trough Germany, Risbeck was the first to expose this fact and to point out the German backwardness. He severly criticizes, unmasks and condemns all what is wrong in the social and religious life in his country, as well as what is wrong in the political administration in Germany. But he also does justice to the greatness Germany also possesses, notably in science, literature and philosophy, and he is convinced that there are enough fine qualities in the German nation to guarantee a good future. Risbeck's style is full of spirit and daring, adding to the eclatant success of the book. Good copy.- (Binding rubbed; sl. foxed).
Ad 1:Kroepelien 873; Ferguson 275b; Beddie 259; O'Reilly-Reitman 604; Judd p. 4 and nr. 131 (Engl. ed.); Hill p. 206 (Engl. ed.).
Related Subjects: Cartography Cook Europe German Hawaii Literature Pacific Piracy Russia Sweden Trade Travel & Voyages Add to Shopping cart |
€ 5.000,00
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All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.
Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.
Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale
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Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
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