Monuments in Easter Island.

Rare c.18th engraved view of Easter Island, made during Cook’s visit to the island 8 October 1773 to 16 March 1774, from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s second voyage.

Cook noted; ‘Starting out in the morning from the anchorage at Hangaroa they crossed the isthmus to the eastern side of the island, where overturned perhaps by an Earthquake. One of the standing ones had lost its hat. These pillars stand on a kind of pedestal or stone elevation’ (Foster 468-74)

From Cook, 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.

References:
Beddie, M. Bibliography of Captain James Cook, RN,FRS, Circumnavigator. Sydney 1970: 1381-46, p.268
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 358.
Joppien,R. & Smith, B. The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages; Vol. I, II & III. Melbourne 1985-1987: pl.66, p.76
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967. 16245.

Collections:
Maritime Museum Greenwich: ID: PAI4104
National Library Australia: Bib ID 90039 /2072924
State Library New South Wales: RECORD IDENTIFIER 74VvMokVOlGA / 74VvMoxg6JJX