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C1773
Chart of part of the South Sea, Shewing the Tracks & Discoveries made by His Majestys Ships. Dolphin, Commodore Byron & Tamer, Capn. Mouat, 1765. Dolphin, Capn. Wallis, & Swallow, Capn. Carteret, 1767. and Endeavour, Lieutant Cooke, 1769. sic
Mapmaker:
The rare English edition of Cook’s famous chart showing his discoveries in the South Seas made on his first voyage. Seminal map in the charting of the Australian continent and the most up-to-date chart of the Pacific for its time. … Read Full Description
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S/N: CK01E-PI-10011027–410608
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Full Title:
Chart of part of the South Sea, Shewing the Tracks & Discoveries made by His Majestys Ships. Dolphin, Commodore Byron & Tamer, Capn. Mouat, 1765. Dolphin, Capn. Wallis, & Swallow, Capn. Carteret, 1767. and Endeavour, Lieutant Cooke, 1769. sic
Date:
C1773
Mapmaker:
Condition:
Narrow left margin extended, small portion of lower right margin reinstated (usually missing), free of the usual tears and otherwise in good condition. With folds as issued.
Technique:
Copper engraving.
Image Size:
664mm
x 355mm
Paper Size:
706mm
x 412mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1773
Description:
The rare English edition of Cook’s famous chart showing his discoveries in the South Seas made on his first voyage.
Seminal map in the charting of the Australian continent and the most up-to-date chart of the Pacific for its time. The discoveries made by Cook in the Endeavour on his first voyage 1768-1771 are shown for the first time, including the charting of the east coast of Australia and New Zealand. With the charting of the east coast, the geographical limits of the South Land were now known. The map also includes the tracks and discoveries of Wallis, Carteret and Byron. The discovery of Tahiti and the recording of its longitude are important and often overlooked achievements of the Wallis expedition as they paved the way for future cartographic advances and further exploration of the Pacific. Wallis announced his discovery three months prior to the departure of the Endeavour from Plymouth.
On 30 July 1768, the Lords of the Admiralty signed Cook’s secret instructions for the voyage of the Endeavour. The instructions were in two parts, the second of which was sealed, only to be opened by Cook himself. The first task was to sail to Tahiti from where Cook and his crew were instructed to observe the Transit of Venus. The document included the request that ‘When this service is performed you are to put to Sea without Loss of Time, and carry into execution the Additional Instructions contained in the enclosed Sealed Packet’. The sealed instructions contained the Admiralty’s true reasons for supporting the voyage. In addition to observing the transit of Venus, Cook was commanded to find the South Land, a ‘Land of great extent’ that was thought to exist in the southern latitudes. The orders continued, ‘You are to proceed southward in order to make discovery of the Continent above-mentioned until you arrive in the latitude of 40 degrees, unless you sooner fall in with it.’
Undertaken at the height of the Age of Enlightenment, Cook’s voyage heralded a new era of scientific exploration. The two dominant maritime and scientific powers, France and Britain, would confront each other in a great rivalry for power and discovery.
From Hawkesworth, An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere,..
References:
Tooley, R.V. The Mapping of Australia. London 1979 :: 321.
Perry, T. & Prescott, D. A guide to maps of Australia in books published 1780-1830. Canberra 1996 :: 1773.01,.
Clancy, R. The Mapping of Terra Australia. Sydney 1995 :: p.96, ill.6.32 (German edition),.
Perry, T. The Discovery of Australia. Sydney 1982 :: pl.32, pl.33 & pl.34,.
Hakluyt Society, The Charts and Coastal Views of Captain Cook's Voyages. Volume 1. The Voyages of the Endeavour 1768-1771. No. 42. London 1988 :: 1.71A ill. p.73.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 3536581
State Library Victoria: MAPS 910 AT 1765-7
State Library New South Wales: M1 910/1770/1
Tooley, R.V. The Mapping of Australia. London 1979 :: 321.
Perry, T. & Prescott, D. A guide to maps of Australia in books published 1780-1830. Canberra 1996 :: 1773.01,.
Clancy, R. The Mapping of Terra Australia. Sydney 1995 :: p.96, ill.6.32 (German edition),.
Perry, T. The Discovery of Australia. Sydney 1982 :: pl.32, pl.33 & pl.34,.
Hakluyt Society, The Charts and Coastal Views of Captain Cook's Voyages. Volume 1. The Voyages of the Endeavour 1768-1771. No. 42. London 1988 :: 1.71A ill. p.73.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 3536581
State Library Victoria: MAPS 910 AT 1765-7
State Library New South Wales: M1 910/1770/1
James Cook (1728 - 1779)
Cook was the most important navigator of the Age of Enlightenment, a period that saw the mystery of the Southland resolved, the discovery of New Zealand, Hawaii, numerous Pacific Islands and confirmation that a Northwest Passage did not exist. Cook was born in Yorkshire, England, the son of a Scottish labourer and apprenticeship for three years under John Walker, a Quaker coal-shipper of Whitby. In 1755 Walker offered him a command, but instead Cook joined HMS Eagle and within a month was master's mate. After two years on the Channel service, he was promoted master of the Pembroke, and in 1758 crossed the Atlantic in her and took part in the siege of Louisburg and the survey of the St Lawrence River that led to the capture of Quebec. Returning to England in 1762 he married Elizabeth Batts (1742-1832?) of Shadwell, whom he was to rarely see in the ensuing years at sea. Cook then famously commanded three voyages that ended with his death on the island of Hawaii on 14 February 1779.
