FORSTER, John Reinhold (1729-1798). Observations made during a Voyage Round the World. London, 1778. FIRST EDITION.
4to (290 x 222 mm). Folding map, letterpress table; list of subscribers, errata. Contemporary calf gilt (rebacked to style). Provenance: Milton, Peterborough (bookplate). FIRST EDITION. "Forster accompanied Cook as naturalist on his second voyage. An account is given of the countries visited in 1772-5, but for the most part this work concerns the South Sea Islands. The observations concerning the 'human species' are particularly interesting... The last section presents a detailed evaluation of steps taken for the preservation of health on the voyage, notably the suggestions of James Lind. Forster deals at considerable length with the health and diseases of the South Sea islanders. He discusses venereal disease... and suggests that it was endemic in the islands, thus removing the reproach that it was introduced by the crews of Bougainville, Byron, and Wallis" (Hill). Conrad, p.12; Hill, p.109; Mitchell 1262; Rosove 140.A1 ("Very scarce"); Sabin 25140; Spence 467.
