A View in the Island of Rotterdam.

Rare engraving from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s second voyage. All other later copies made of this image by other publishers were unauthorised, usually
smaller and inferior in quality.

Although this image is titled ‘The Island of Roterdam’ (Nomuka Island), it is in fact a view of Tongatapu. The possible reason for this error may have been the liberty taken by the publishers requiring a view of the island. Hodges had not made an image as he had exhausted his supplies of colour pigments by the time the Resolution arrived at Nomuka in June 1774.

 As Cook stated in his Journal; ‘The Inhabitants, Productions &ca of Rotterdam or Annamocka and the Neighbouring  isles are much the Same as at Amsterdam.’ (Journals II, 449.)

Reference; Beddie 1381-43, p.268, Joppien p.86, pl.76

From Cook’s, A Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World, performed in His Majesty’s Ships the ‘Resolution’ and ‘Adventure’, In the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775.