ANSON, George (1697-1762). A Voyage round the World, In the Years 1740... 1744. London: John and Paul Knapton for the author, 1748. One volume bound in 2 (not uniform), comprising: text 4to (270 x 212 mm); atlas: large 4to (297 x 243 mm). Atlas: 43 engraved folding plates (including a duplicate of plate 12). (Very minor pale spotting.) Text: sheep-backed marbled boards gilt, uncut (very slightly rubbed); Atlas: original paper-backed boards, uncut; both volumes housed in a half tan calf folding case.FIRST EDITION of the official account of one of the landmark 18th-century circumnavigations, rare issue with the plates bound separately at a contemporary date. "This compilation has long occupied a distinguished position as a masterpiece of descriptive travel. Anson's voyage appears to have been the most popular book of maritime adventure of the eighteenth century" (Hill). Bibliographies call for 42 maps and plates, but this copy has 43 including the general route map in the text volumes. Both the National Maritime Museum copy and the Hill copy have 17 preliminary pages, whereas this copy has 33 pages to include the List of Subscribers. Borba de Moraes, p. 38; Cox Vol. I, p. 49; ESTC T89475; Hill, pp. 317-18; Sabin 1625.