CAPTAIN COOKS 'VOYAGES' BOOK IN AUCTION

In earlier times unless you were already well known and you wished to have your book published it was either a case of paying for it yourself or raising subscriptions for the undertaking.

Such was the means of publishing the splendid folio edition of Captain Cook’s ‘Voyages’ by George William Anderson in 1781. A very fine copy of the work will appear in Richard Winterton’s Fine Art Sale on 4th January 2007 in Lichfield, (antiquarian book section).

Anderson undertook immense trouble to have his account published and profusely illustrated by engravings, (there are over a hundred of them) placing before his contemporaries what the people of the places Cook discovered really looked like as well as their ceremonies, costumes and habitats.

Most of the subscribers hailed from the London area of course, but there are some surprises, Major Congreve, (of Congreve) was of a well known Staffordshire family connected with the invention of the first rocket missile. The Mr Cockayne of Derby was probably one of the Ashbourne family. Perhaps the most surprising name among the list of subscribers was Zachariah Boreman the ceramic painter of Derby, (actually his name is misspelled but there can be little doubt of his identity). He may have invested in the work out of personal interest but the illustrations would have been an inspiration to him as a ceramic painter - he must have been bored stiff painting idyllic European flowers and scenes all of the time.

Another artist subscriber was Mr Pether of Frith St London who can be identified with the ingenious Abraham Pether (1756-1812) whose speciality was moonlit scenes of dramatic effect.

Despite minor damage, the illustrations in Anderson’s book are clear and crisp. Perhaps some of them have not been opened and revealed to the human eye for two hundred years.

Discovered by Valuers at a Midlands valuation event, the book carries pre-sale expectations of £400-600.

Phone 01543 251081 for further information regarding the January Lichfield Fine Art Sale, including catalogue subscriptions.