Historical background is provided on what transpired on James Cook's first voyage in the H.M.S. Endeavour. Sydney Parkinson travelled with the company as the draughtsman, sketching the botanical specimens found in the course of the first two years of the journey. His notes permitted five other artists in England to finish his work with the aid of the specimens that had been collected. Joseph Banks hired 18 engravers to make copperplates of the drawings, which plates are briefly described. Some proofs and photolithographic prints were made from these plates, specifically between 1900 and 1905 and again in 1973. The current project involves cleaning and repairing these plates to complete a full color set of these prints; the process is described, using a 17th century Dutch technique à la poupée. -- AATA