A Complete map of the Southern Continent Survey’d …

The first, large scale English map solely devoted to the Australian continent, showing the results of Abel Tasman’s voyages in 1642-1644.

The map is based Melchissedec Thevenot, publication first issued in 1663, with the addition of the Tropic of Capricorn, as well as several other decorative elements, including: an elegant title cartouche, a compass rose and two panels of
text. The lower panel of text states ‘it is impossible to conceive a country that promises fairer from this situation than this of TERRA AUSTRALIS no longer incognita as this map demonstrates, but this Southern Continent Discovered‘. Bowen incorrectly states on the map that the continent was discovered in 1644.

The VOC had appointed Tasman on 1 August 1642, as commander of the Heemskerck and Zeehaen, with instructions to explore the unknown and previously undiscovered areas of the South Land, the south-east coast of New Guinea and surrounding islands. Tasman’s two voyages resulted in the charting of the northern, north-western and southern limits of the continent, as well as the discovery of part of the west coast of New Zealand. The map also records the following earlier Dutch discoveries on the Australian coast: Hartog in the Eendracht 1616, Houtman in the Dordrecht and Amsterdam 1619, van Leeuwin 1622, Carstensz in the Leijden 1623, Nuyts in the Gulden Zeepaert 1627 and de Wit in the Vianen 1628.

Thevenot had divided the continent with a meridian set at 135 degrees East of Greenwich, the positioning of this meridian fell along the division set out in the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494, which divided the newly discovered lands outside of Europe between Spain and Portugal. The lands to the east ‘belonged’ to Portugal and those to the west, to Spain. Mapmakers depiction of the Australian continent was to remained unchanged until the discovery of the east coast by James Cook in 1769.

From Harris’s Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca, or a Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels. 2nd edition (1st edition doesn’t have this map)

References:
Clancy, R. & Richardson, A. So They Came South. Sydney 1988 Clancy 6.25 ill.p.91.
Clancy, R. The Mapping of Terra Australia. Sydney 1995 p.138, ill.pp.136-138.
Perry, T. The Discovery of Australia. Sydney 1982 p.60-61, ill.pl.29.
Perry, T. & Prescott, D. A guide to maps of Australia in books published 1780-1830. Canberra 1996 1744.01.
Schilder, G. Australia Unveiled, The share of the Dutch navigators in the discovery of Australia. Amsterdam 1976 87, ill.417.
Tooley, R.V. The Mapping of Australia. London 1979 241, ill. pl.12..
National Library Australia, Mapping Our World. Canberra 2013 MAP NK 4185.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 2650522
State Library New South Wales: CALL NUMBERS F910.8/H
State Library Victoria: MAPS SB 800 A