[ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY].

Journal

Vols. 1-50 Index [with] Proceedings vols 1-22 [with] Proceedings new series, vols. 1-14. Numerous maps, charts and illustrations. 87 vols in 79. 8vo. Smart contemporary half calf, a little rubbed with red morocco labels, one or two rebacked to match. London, John Murray, 1832 -, 1892.

£45,000.00

Including the rare first series of the Proceedings, this set provides a complete history of one of the most important periods of British exploration. Thanks to the voyages of Cook, Vancouver and Flinders and exhibits such as that of the Leverian Museum, the public interest in exploration of the New World was already engaged. By 1820, the world’s coastlines had largely been mapped and attention naturally turned to the vast unchartered interiors of the continents. In sponsoring some of the great expeditions to Africa, Australia, the Antarctic and Central Asia, The Royal Geographical Society became a major promoter of nineteenth century exploration and symbolised the expansion of the British Empire. Indeed, the role call of contributers reads like a who’s who of nineteenth century exploration, from James Clarke Ross, to David Livingstone, Richard Burton, Charles Sturt, and Burke and Wills. Through the regular publication of its Proceedings and Journal (instead of an annual volume of Transactions), the RGS was able communicate knowledge of these discoveries to the public in a cheap, accessible manner. In this way reports filed by explorers were quickly disseminated, debated and publicised. These reports almost always pre-dated official accounts and usually marked the first appearance of new discoveries in print. In addition its many finely executed engraved maps are in many cases extremely important being the earliest published cartographic depictions of newly discovered lands, often preceding those published by the explorer in his own work.

Stock No.
188896