A set of books from the library of Admiral Isaac Manley, the last surviving crew member on Captain Cook’s Endeavour voyage

Paris and the Parisians, in 1835. London : Richard Bentley, 1836. Two volumes, octavo, publisher’s cloth (spines defective), pp. xv; 418; vii; 412; Manley’s armorial bookplate to front pastedown of volume 1 (bearing the family motto Manus hæc inimica tyrannis – This hand is hostile to tyrants), each volume signed on the title page ‘Admiral Manley’.

Born in London in 1755, Isaac George Manley joined James Cook aboard the Endeavour on 17 June 1768, aged thirteen. Manley served as servant to Robert Molineaux, Master of the Ship, and was promoted to midshipman by Captain Cook on 5 February, 1771, during the return voyage from New Holland. Manley rejoined Cook as a midshipman aboard the Resolution on his second circumnavigation, but he was discharged on 8 April 1772 before it sailed, and served instead on another ship. It is unclear what the circumstances were for his departure. Manley went on to serve a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and was promoted to Admiral in 1830 and Admiral of the Red in 1837, the highest naval rank. He died on 14 October 1837, aged 82, the last surviving crew member of the historic Endeavour voyage. Given the publication date of this set, Manley must have inscribed his name while aged in his eighties and holding the highest office.

Manley’s experiences as a youth aboard the Endeavour voyage from 1768 – 1771 was the subject of a historical novel by Anthony Hill titled Captain Cook’s Apprentice, published in 2008; as well as a fictional work for young adults, The Goat Who Sailed The World, by Jackie French in 2006.

A rare relic from a distinguished naval officer and crew member aboard Captain Cook’s legendary voyage of the Endeavour.