Nouvelle-Holland, Baie des Chiens marins…

Superb c.19th stipple engraving of Shark Bay from the rarest of the French exploratory voyages to visit Western Australia.

Louis de Freycinet, cartographer on the earlier ill-fated Baudin voyage returned to the west coast of Australia as commander of the Uranie with instructions to concentrate primarily on scientific work of a broad nature, unlike earlier French voyages whose main intent was exploration. 

Freycinet anchored at Shark Bay on 12 September 1818 where a boat party was sent to Dirk Hartog Island to collect the famous pewter plate which Freycinet had first seen in 1801 whilst serving aboard the Naturaliste. The ship and crew remained at Shark Bay for two weeks and the three views which record this visit are amongst the finest engraved images produced of Western Australia. 

From Freycinet, L. Voyage autour du monde. Atlas historique. Paris

Collections:
National Library: Bib ID 1045814

References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 : 941.
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967. : 25916.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 : p.159.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974:  p.9-10.
Dunmore, J. French Explorers in the Pacific. Oxford 1965-69 : II, pp.63-108.