Mappemonde ou carte generale de l`Univers sur une projection nouvelle d`une sphere ovale pour mieux entendre les distances entre l`Europe et Amerique avec le tour du monde du Lieut

First issue of this large-scale world map on an ovaloid projection. 

This large world map was one of the first to show the discoveries of the east coast of Australia and New Zealand by James Cook on his first voyage. Australia is shown awaiting the discovery of Bass Strait by Bass and Flinders (1797) and the southern coast by Baudin and Flinders (1803). Following the great success of the published accounts of Cook`s first Earlier charting of Australia is shown with the Dutch discoveries of Hartog 1616, the van Leeuwin 1619, Nuyts 1627, de Wit 1628 and Tasman 1642-44. The Trial Islands near present-day Dampier, named after the English ship the Trial, which were incorrectly charted by Gerritsz after the false reports provided by Captain Brookes, are also noted. 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 inclosed 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°, unless you sooner fall in with it.’ 

References: Kissajukian, Southland, The Search for Spices Maps 1513-1811. 2013 Moreland p.88.