South America Byron, John The Narrative of the Honourable John Byron ... Containing an account of the great distresses suffered by himself and his companions on the coast of Patagonia, from the year 1740, till their arrival in England, 1746. With a description of St. Jago de Chili ... With 1 engraved frontispiece. Frontispiece by C. Grignion after S. Wale. London: Baker, Leigh and Davies, 1768. 4 pp. (endpapers, frontispiece, frontispiece, title), VIII, 257 (1) pp., 3 pp. (blank). 8°. Marbled and spott. Marbled calf with gilt stamped title on leather label, gilt spine and edges. First edition of Byron's dramatic account of his shipwreck off the southern Chilean coast and subsequent mutiny. - Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time, vol. III, 9730 - Cf. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages, p. 366 - John Byron was an officer on the "Wager", a transport and supply ship that was part of Admiral George Anson's fleet of eight ships that were to harass the Spanish in the Pacific. The Wager successfully rounded Cape Horn, but ran aground in the Guayaneco Archipelago on 14 May 1741, followed by a mutiny of the surviving crew. Byron's grandson, the poet Lord Byron, would later refer to this story when he used the account of the shipwreck in his satirical poem on the adventures of Don Juan. - "Admiral Byron's narrative of the loss of the Wager is one of the most thrilling accounts in the language, and supplied his illustrious descendant with many particulars for the shipwreck 'Don Juan'" (Sabin). - Provenance: David E. Hughes, antiquary, Llandudno, with his printed bookseller's label mounted on the rear pastedown. - Front cover of binding with small loss in leather cover, corners slightly bumped, edges slightly rubbed, title page with slight loss of frontispiece, title page minimally finger-stained, otherwise well-preserved, in decorative calf. South America. - With 1 copper engraved frontispiece by C. Grignion after S. Walz. - First edition of Byron's "Narrative" of his famous shipwreck off the Chilean coast following a mutiny. - Byron was a midshipman on the HMS "Wager", a transport and supply ship as part of Commodore George Anson's squadron sent to harass the Spanish in the Pacific. She rounded Cape Horn successfully but ran aground on 14 May 1741 in the Guayaneco Archipelago. Later a mutiny broke out among the surving crew. Byron's grandson, the poet Lord Byron, later used present narrative when writing the shipwreck account in his epic satirical poem chronicling the adventures of the eponymous Don Juan. - "Admiral Byron's narrative of the loss of the Wager is one of the most thrilling accounts in the language, and supplied his illustrious descendant with many particulars for the shipwreck in 'Don Juan'" (Sabin). - Provenance: Antiquarian bookseller David E. Hughes, Llandudno, with his printed bookseller's label mounted on rear pastedown. - Front cover with small fault at bottom, corners of binding slightly bumped, edges occasionally worn, title page with slight offset of frontispiece, title page minimally finger-stained, otherwise well-preserved, in decorative calf. This lot is taxed. The hammer price is subject to a 24.95% buyer's premium and the final invoice amount is subject to 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.