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C1784
Christmas Island latitude 1° 58′ N. longitude 202° 28′ E. discovered in the ships Resolution and Discovery 1777, variation 6° 0′ E
Mapmaker:
Rare c.18th engraved map of Kiritimati from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s third and final voyage. Cook discovered Kiritimati (Christmas Island) 24th December 1777 and stayed on the island catching turtle and fish until … Read Full Description
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Details
Full Title:
Christmas Island latitude 1° 58′ N. longitude 202° 28′ E. discovered in the ships Resolution and Discovery 1777, variation 6° 0′ E
Date:
C1784
Mapmaker:
Condition:
In good condition
Technique:
Copper engraving.
Image Size:
220mm
x 180mm
Paper Size:
292mm
x 225mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1784
Description:
Rare c.18th engraved map of Kiritimati from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s third and final voyage.
Cook discovered Kiritimati (Christmas Island) 24th December 1777 and stayed on the island catching turtle and fish until 2 January 1778.
‘On the 24th, about half an hour after day break, land was discovered bearing North East by East, half East. Upon a nearer approach, it was found to be one of those low islands so common in this ocean; that is a narrow bank of land inclosing the sea within. A few cocoa-nut trees were seen in two or three places, but in the general the land had a very barren appearence.”
From Cook & King, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. Performed under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore, in His Majesty’s Ships the Resolution and Discovery; in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780.
References:
Beddie, M. Bibliography of Captain James Cook, RN,FRS, Circumnavigator. Sydney 1970 1543 & 1743-6, p.331.
Joppien, R. & Smith, B. The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages; Vol. I, II & III. Melbourne 1985-1987 3.10A, ill.p.272.
Forbes, D. Hawaiian National Bibliography 1780- 1830. Honolulu /Sydney, 1999/2003 62; cf.
Carter, J. & Muir, P. Printing and the Mind of Man London 1983 223.
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967. 16250.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 321.
Collections:
State Library New South Wales: CALL NUMBERS RB/F990A/9
State Library Victoria: RARELT 910.41 C773VS
State Library South Australia: Special Collection: 919 C771
Henry Roberts (1756 - 1796)
Roberts was an officer in the Royal Navy who served with Captain Cook on his last two voyages. Roberts served as lieutenant on Cook's HMS Discovery, where he was entrusted with many hydrographic and cartographic tasks, and also met then-midshipman George Vancouver. Roberts spent many years after that voyage preparing the detailed charts that went into Cook's posthumous Atlas. He was also on Cook's HMS Resolution where he was to make a painting of the ship. In 1790, Roberts was appointed commander of the newly built HMS Discovery on another round-the-world voyage with George Vancouver as his first lieutenant. However, the Nootka Crisis called both men to duty elsewhere, and upon its resolution, Vancouver was given command of the historic voyage. Roberts died on 25 August 1796, Captain of HMS Undaunted in the West Indies, where he contracted yellow fever.
