Cook’s Voyages original mounted print- c. 1785 ‘ The Mode of Dancing in the island of Mietea’

Original copperplate engraving, from an edition of ‘Cook’s Voyages’, showing a double pview of dancing girls and the other a rural view, titled below ‘ The Mode of Dancing in the island of Mietea’

also: ‘Acccurately engraved for Anderson’s LARGE FOLIO EDITION of the WHOLE of CAPTn COOKS VOYAGES & COMPLETE’

London published by Alex Hogg at the kings Arms No 16 Paternoster Row

32x 22cm

George Anderson published this version in 1784, using many different engravers to illustrate the text. As he states in the preface:

“Some other editions of these Works, unnecessarily extended to many large Volumes by loose Printing &c. and published by mercenary Persons would cost the Purchaser the enormous Sum of upwards of Twenty Guineas; so that many Thousands of Persons who would wish to peruse the valuable Discoveries so partially communicated to the World have hitherto been excluded from gratifying their eager Curiosity; but this Edition is published in only Eighty Numbers at 6d each, making when complete either One or Two Large Handsome Volumes in Folio. The Poor as well as the Rich will thus become familiarly acquainted with these extraordinary and important Voyages and Discoveries”.