Captain Cook's Boomerang

A boomerang collected by the explorer Captain James Cook is predicted to sell at auction for up to £60,000. Cook brought the boomerang back to England in 1771, but had no idea of its name or real purpose, believing it to be some kind of wooden sword. The first records of a boomerang in action date from the early nineteenth century, well after Cook's death, so it is likely the famous explorer never discovered the reality of his prize. The boomerang is to go to auction next month in London, along with two wooden clubs collected in the same expedition.

Genesis published the logs of both James Cook's legendary Voyages of Discovery. The first of the two hand bound books, detailing Cook's travels with the HMS Endeavour, sold out to become a valuable collectible. The second, Cook's account of his journey aboard HMS Resolution through the South Pacific and across the Antarctic Circle, is still available to order here.