A narrative of the expedition to Botany Bay;

with an account of New south Wales, its production, inhabitants, &c. To which is subjoined, a list of the civil and military establishments at Port Jackson. London : J. Debrett, 1789. Second edition. Octavo, half-calf over marbled boards, spine in compartments with gilt fleurons, gilt lettered morocco title label, pp [xii, including the half-title], 146, without the final leaf of advertisements (not mentioned in Ferguson); a fine copy.

Tench’s account of the voyage of the First Fleet to Australia is the earliest such journal published. The first edition appeared in print in April 1789, only a couple of weeks after the Fleet had returned to England. An ’eminently readable book [which] is regarded by many authorities as the most accurate, orderly, vivacious, and valuable description of life in the colony in its first years’ (Hill). Three London editions as well as a slew of European imprints appeared in the year 1789 alone. The second edition is almost identical to the first, and was printed almost immediately after it.

Ferguson 49; Hill 1685.