Carte Reduite de la Mer du Sud.

Scarce c.18th hand coloured engraved map by Nicholas Bellin with Australia and New Zealand shown according to the discoveries made by Abel Tasman on his two voyages 1642-1643 and 1644.

Bellin completes Australia’s east coast with an imaginary line connecting the southern portions of Van Diemen’s Land discovered by Abel Tasman, to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. He had stated; Je Suppose que de Diemen peut Venir se joundre avec la Terre de S. Espirit mais sans preuves, ( I assume that de Diemen can come to join with the Land of S. Spirit but without proof).

From Prevost, Abbe. Histoire générale des voyages : ou, Nouvelle collection de toutes les relations de voyages par mer et par terre qui ont été publiées jusqu’à présent dans les différentes langues de toutes les.. Paris

References:
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967:  65403.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974:  p.241
Phillips, P. A List of Geographical Atlases in the Library of Congress. Washington 1973:  5991

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 6058912
Library of Congress Washington D.C.: 05041509
State Library New South Wales: RB/DQ909.8A
Bibliotheque Nationale de France: Identifier: ark:/12148/bpt6k201024v
State Library Victoria: RARESF 910.8 P929H