Shipwreck and Discovery of the Pelew Islands: An Account of the Pelew Islands situated in the Western Part of the Pacific Ocean, composed from the Journals and Communications of Captain Henry Wilson, and some of his Officers who, in August 1783, were there Shipwrecked in the Antelope … George Keate - First Edition 1788

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Shipwreck and Discovery of the Pelew Islands: An Account of the Pelew Islands situated in the Western Part of the Pacific Ocean, composed from the Journals and Communications of Captain Henry Wilson, and some of his Officers who, in August 1783, were there Shipwrecked in the Antelope … George Keate – First Edition 1788

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Published by G Nicol, Booksellers to His Majesty the King, Pall Mall, Lonon in 1788. Quarto, xxvii, 378 pages. Early full polished calf binding later re-backed, spine in compartments with gilt lettered contrasting labels; unusual circular only and gilt supralibros to both boards. A little wear and a few age marks otherwise a super copy.

Frontispiece and sixteen magnificent engravings 8 of which are folding. Frontispiece of Wilson and an important folding map of the islands and their relationship with The Philippines, also a three-fold plan or view of the islands.

The supralibros or emblem to front and back is that of Lord George Nugent-Grenville who was the 2nd Baron Nugent (1789-1850) and Irish politician at one time Lord of the Treasury and Lord High Commissioner
Of the Ionian Islands – living the high life in Corfu – tough gig.

Composed from the journals and communications of Captain Wilson and his Officers who in 1783 were shipwrecked in the Antelope a packet belonging to the Honourable East India Company. They hit a reef near one of the Palau (Pelew) Island, a previously unexplored group. The entire crew managed to get ashore safely, where they were well treated by the natives and eventually managed to build a small vessel from the wreck in which they reached Macao. They took Prince Lee Boo, one of King Adda Thulle’s sons, with them to England, where he made a very good impression. Unhappily despite of precautions he died of smallpox. Keate was the author of numerous books of poetry, history, and letter, and counted Captain Wilson as well as Voltaire amongst his friends.

First Edition1788 - the plates in this edition are amongst the finest. Excellent provenance.

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