Lot 355
Wales, William
Auction: 13 January 2010 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Astronomical observations made in the voyages... for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere. London: sold by P. Elmsley, 1788. 4to, [[iv], xii, *4, 146], 2 folding maps, contemporary tree calf gilt, red label, Northern Lighthouse Board gilt stamp to upper board, rubbing to backstrip, some offsetting to title
Footnote
Note: Wales was appointed by the Board of Longitude to accompany Captain James Cook on his second voyage of 1772–75, replacing the astronomer (and Wales' brother-in-law) Charles Green, who had died during the return leg of Cook's first voyage. A major part of Wales' duties was to test Larcum Kendall's K1 chronometer, based on the H4 of John Harrison. Wallis and Carteret had been to the South Pacific in 1766. It was in 1778 that Wales was given the task of producing the official astronomical account of Cook’s first voyage following the death of Charles Green. In order to clarify Green’s accounts earlier observations had to be included, and with Cook’s untimely death during the third Voyage Wales had a mammoth task producing this work without Green or Cook’s assistance. Once published however the information was of great value to seamen. The first edition of 1777 contains four plates and maps.