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C1794
(1805)
A new chart of the World on Wright’s or Mercator’s projection in which are exhibited all the parts hitherto explored or discovered; with the tracks of the British circumnavigators Byron, Wallis, Carteret and Cook, &c. and the track of La Perouse in th
Mapmaker:
Robert Laurie & James Whittle (1757-1818) (1755 - 1836)
Spectacular wall chart recording British maritime exploration to the end of the 18th century. Included are the voyages of: Baffin 1616, Byron 1764-1766, Carteret 1766-1769, Cook I, II & III 1757-1779, Clerke 1779 (took command after the death of Cook), Furneaux … Read Full Description
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Full Title:
A new chart of the World on Wright’s or Mercator’s projection in which are exhibited all the parts hitherto explored or discovered; with the tracks of the British circumnavigators Byron, Wallis, Carteret and Cook, &c. and the track of La Perouse in th
Date:
C1794
(1805)
Mapmaker:
Robert Laurie & James Whittle (1757-1818) (1755 - 1836)
Condition:
In good condition, two sheets joined and laid onto archival linen.
Technique:
Copper engraving with original hand colouring
Image Size:
910mm
x 720mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1805
Description:
Spectacular wall chart recording British maritime exploration to the end of the 18th century.
Included are the voyages of: Baffin 1616, Byron 1764-1766, Carteret 1766-1769, Cook I, II & III 1757-1779, Clerke 1779 (took command after the death of Cook), Furneaux 1773, Gore 1779 (took command after the death of Clerke), James 1631-1632, La Perouse 1788, Phipps 1773, Vancouver 1791-1795, Wallis 1766-1768 and Walpole 1794.
Australia is shown with the discoveries made by Bass and Flinders, of Bass Strait and their circumnavigation of Tasmania that proved its insularity from the Australian mainland. Laurie and Whittle’s recording of the name Basses for the strait, is only found on the first issue of Aaron Arrowsmith’s chart ‘A Chart of Basses Strait Between New South Wales and Van-Diemen’s Land’, published in 1800. Arrowsmith corrected the error in the second issue of the chart. Previous Dutch discoveries are noted, as are those of Vancouver and Dampier. Dampier’s observations of ‘Opening‘ and ‘Great opening’ on the Western Australian coast are noted, which were the basis for the ongoing belief and quest by the British for an inland waterway. Cook’s tracks along the east coast from ‘Cape Howe’ (Cape Hicks) to Cape York are shown.
An exceptional example of this scarce map with full original hand colouring, usually found with only outline hand colouring. We have not found another example coloured in this way.
Laurie and Whittle issued a number of updated versions of this chart in their ‘The complete East India Pilot‘. We have located the following issues of the chart: 12th May 1794, 25th March 1799, 25th November 1800, 1st March 1805, 1st March 1808. Prescott notes other editions dated 1802, 1803 and 1804.
References:
Prescott p.131, 1808.01 (1808 edition).
Mapmaker:
Robert Laurie (1755-1836)
Born in London son of Robert and Ann Lowry (he sometimes used this name early in his career). In 1770 the Society of Arts awarded him a silver platter for a drawing, and in 1775 and 1776 premiums of five and ten guineas for patterns for calico printing. In 1776 he was given an award of thirty guineas for disclosing a new method of printing mezzo tints in colour. He worked independently for a few years before returning to work with Robert Sayer. In 1794 he took over the business, acquiring the entire stock for £5,000, in partnership with James Whittle.
James Whittle (1757-1818)
Whittle worked for Robert Sayer and became his junior partner, with Robert Laurie, as Sayer & Co, in 1790 subsequently becoming successor in partnership with Laurie.
James Horsburgh (1762-1836)
As first mate aboard an East India Company vessel, Horsburgh was shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean in 1786 after faulty charts steered the ship onto a reef. Thereafter he devoted himself to the production of accurate charts of the eastern seas, keeping meticulous notes on extensive voyages, and carefully scrutinising the accounts and journals of other mariners. For his efforts, Horsburgh was elected to the Royal Society in 1806, and appointed Hydrographer to the East India Company in 1810.
He published his influential rutter, Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, China, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, and the Interjacent Ports which included all his researches. He updated charts with this information in his position of Hydrographer to the East India Company.
‘The complete East India pilot, or, Oriental navigator: being an extensive collection of charts both general and practical with plans of bays, roads, and harbours, appearances of land, &c. &c. for the navigation not only of the Indian and China Seas with those of New Holland, but also of the seas between the British Isles and the Cape of Good Hope / Chiefly composed from actual surveys and draughts communicated by experienced officers of the Honourable East-India Company, and from the French Neptune Oriental, by M. D’Après de Manevillette.’
