SOUTH SEAS. – James BURNEY. A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. London: by Luke Hansard for G. and W. Nicol et al., 1803-1817. 5 vols., first edition, 4to (298 x 228mm.) 28 engraved maps and charts, 17 folding, 13 engraved plates, 1 folding, 6 wood-cut illustrations in the text. (Several folding plates with marginal creasing and moderate to heavy spotting, offsetting, occasional minor spotting, blanks replaced to all volumes except vol. 1 and 2.) Near contemporary half calf over marbled paper-covered boards to vols. 1 and 2, two later black morocco lettering pieces to spines (rebacked and corners repaired, extremities and covers rubbed, endpapers replaced), with 20th century half calf over marbled paper-covered boards for vols. 3-5 (endpapers replaced). Note: many of the voyage accounts published here are otherwise inaccessible and so Burney’s work ‘must always form the basis of historical research for early voyages and discoveries throughout the Pacific’ [Hocken]. Provenance: Cranleigh School (bookplates to front pastedowns of vols. 1 and 2, and stamps to titles of vols. 3-5). [Sabin, 9387.] (5).