The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay, with an account of the establishment of the colonies of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island.

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

London: Printed for John Stockdale, 1789. 4to. Original half calf over marbled boards (corners bumped; lightly rubbed). Spine with raised bands, gilt and morocco titling label. (298, lxxiv, 2pp). With frontispiece portrait, title-page with engraved vignette, 6 folding charts, 47 plates including 31 hand-coloured natural history plates printed on laid paper and terminal advertisement leaf. Previous owners bookplate on front pastedown. Slight foxing on frontisp. and title-page. Offsetting throughout, otherwise a fine copy. The scarce coloured issue, very rare. First issue of the first edition, with the words "H. Webber, invt.' beside the engraving of the Wedgwood medallion on the title, and with other early issue points. Ferguson 47; Wantrup 5. NOTE: A copy of the very rare coloured issue sold in 2021 at $95,000. Governor Arthur Phillip was the first governor of New South Wales from 1786 to 1793 and was responsible for the first comprehensive description of the life and challenges facing the young colony. This is a foundation book of any serious collectors library.