The Courage and Perseverance Medal.

£9,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

The Courage and Perseverance medal was struck soon after word of Capt. Cook's death reached England, via Büsching's Wöchentlichte Nachrichten (Berlin, 1780). The news had arrived in Europe via despatches sent by Clerke and King from Kamchatka, and word quickly spread to England of the events at Kealakekua Bay. The medal was produced in this period before the Resolution and Adventure returned to England in September 1780. This makes the medal one of the earliest artefacts associated with Cook's death. Rare. Bronze medal (37mm); obverse uniformed bust of Cook three-quarter right, legend 'Capt. James Cook'; reverse inscription in three-lines 'Courage and Perseverance', 'Born 1728 Died 1779' in exergue; small dig to bust forehead, otherwise about extremely fine. BHM 218.

• Binding: Hardcover

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