The World; or, The Present State of the Universe

A General and Complete Collection of Modern Voyages and Travels

By Cavendish Pelham

London, 1806

Illustrated with 130 engravings.

Complete two volume set in Near Fine condition beautifully rebound in 3/4 leather. Large Quarto volumes measure 10.5" tall x 9.25" wide. Internally bright and clean, without marks and minimal foxing, minimal toning. 220 Years Old.

An early 19th-century travel compendium presents a sweeping survey of the known world as understood in the age of exploration and empire. The World; or, The Present State of the Universe brings together narratives of the most recent and authoritative voyagers and navigators, carefully selected, arranged, and digested for the educated reader.

Compiled by Cavendish Pelham, Esq., this work reflects the intense British interest in global discovery at the close of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, when voyages to Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific were reshaping geography, commerce, science, and imperial ambition. Pelham’s compilation distills firsthand accounts into a readable and informative format, making the set both scholarly and accessible.

The set is embellished with upwards of one hundred and thirty engraved plates, illustrating landscapes, peoples, customs, cities, animals, and significant events encountered by travelers around the globe. These engravings are a major attraction of the work, offering contemporary visual interpretations of distant lands and cultures at a pivotal moment in world history.