[TRAVELS AND VOYAGES]. [COOK, Captain James (1728-1779) and CLERKE, Captain Charles (1741-1779), subjects]. ELLIS, W[illiam] (1751-1785). An Authentic Narrative of a Voyage Performed by Captain Cook and Captain Clerke, in His Majesty's Ships Resolution and Discovery During the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780; in Search of a North-West Passage Between the Continents of Asia and America? London: G. Robinson, J. Sewell, and J. Debrett, 1782. 8vos. Illustrated with folding map and 21 engraved plates. Two volumes. [x], 358, [1, Directions for Placing the Cuts], [1, blank]; [viii], 1-347, [3, blank] pp. Bound with half-titles. Bound to style in modern full mottled calf, boards decoratively ruled in gilt, spines ruled, tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, five raised bands, burgundy and green gilt morocco lettering labels, marbled endleaves, all edges stained yellow (light wear to binding, a few short tears and additional creases to folding map, text toned, foxed, offset and occasionally soiled, volume I with two holes at bottom of rear board, and one corresponding hole or indentation in the lower portions of text of the final 150 pages or so, and with a small inkstain at upper fore-edge, a few gutters starting in both volumes starting, bookseller's ticket of D. F. Elder and Morgan Shepard on the rectos of both rfeps.) Good. FIRST EDITION OF THIS EXCELLENT ACCOUNT OF COOK'S THIRD VOYAGE AND HIS DEATH. "The work contains probably the earliest published account of?Cook's death, and preceded the official account by two years. According to Howes this first edition, though dated?1782, was already printed in December 1781. The fine plates are among the earliest published on the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska and the Northwest."?(Hill). Ellis was a surgeon's mate who served on both the Discovery and the Resolution. Hill 555. Sabin 22333. Measurements: 9"L x 8"W x 4"H.