Rare journal of a voyage from Sumatra to Bengal published by Dalrymple

[Dalrymple, Alexander]. - Taylor, Robert. [Drop-title:] Capt. Taylor's remarks, in ship Ceres.

€ 8,500.00

Rare second edition, second state, of a journal of a voyage from Sumatra to Bengal, kept by Captain Robert Taylor on the ship Ceres, followed by additional comments from "a manuscript, which may be depended upon". Locations sighted include: Hog Island, the Cocos islands, Aceh, the Straits of Malacca, Barren Island and the Andaman Islands.

The journal was published by the eccentric Scottish geographer Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808), Captain Cook's leading rival. As hydrographer for the East India Company, Dalrymple would publish an annual series of memoirs and detailed ships' logs that he obtained in that function. He would compare historical sources gathered from extensive archival research with newly obtained data straight from the ships and his own careful observations. With these publications Dalrymple became the originator of official British hydrography and as such they give a unique impression of the (development of the) scientific background that laid behind the trade of the British Empire in the East.

The journal was first published in 1782 together with A brief statement of the prevailing winds from monsieur Après De Mannevillette.

A very good copy.