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C1876
Thomas Elders’ Expedition durch Inner-Australien von Beltana im Osten bis Perth im Western,…
Scarce large scale detailed c.19th German map showing the route of Gile’s fourth and most important expedition which left Thomas Elder’s camel breeding station, Beltana, on 6 May 1875. Giles covered four thousand kilometres but was disappointed by the results, … Read Full Description
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Details
Full Title:
Thomas Elders’ Expedition durch Inner-Australien von Beltana im Osten bis Perth im Western,…
Date:
C1876
Condition:
In good condition, with folds as issued.
Technique:
Lithograph printed in colour.
Image Size:
650mm
x 255mm
Paper Size:
688mm
x 267mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1876
Description:
Scarce large scale detailed c.19th German map showing the route of Gile’s fourth and most important expedition which left Thomas Elder’s camel breeding station, Beltana, on 6 May 1875.
Giles covered four thousand kilometres but was disappointed by the results, stating ‘unfortunately found no new areas of country suitable for settlement’. Giles succeeded in his cherished aim of making an overland crossing from South Australia to Western Australia in 1875. Equipped with camels by Thomas Elder, he set out from Beltana and went for supplies to Port Augusta whence he proceeded first north-west and then west along a string of waterholes, until he reached the Western Australian border. He then risked a 312-mile (502 km) marathon across the Great Victoria Desert before discovering the Queen Victoria Springs from there he was able to complete his journey to Perth in fairly easy stages. On the return trip in 1876 he went north to the Murchison and Ashburton Rivers, crossed Gibson’s Desert and reached the Rawlinson Ranges where he had been held up in 1874. He thus achieved a double crossing of the western half of the Australian continent. Although Giles found little good country, his expeditions added substantially to the knowledge of central Australia.
From Petermann’s, Geographia Mittheilungen.Â
References:
Smits, J. Petermann’s Maps. Carto-bibliography of the maps in Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen 1855-1945. Berlin 2004: 523
Collections:
National Library of Australia: Bib ID 4329036
State Library New South Wales: CALL NUMBERS DQ909.6A/2
State Library Victoria: YA 910.5 P44
Augustus Heinrich Petermann (1822 - 1898)
In 1847, Petermann moved to London and in 1850 founded his own establishment: The Geographical Establishment, Engraving, Lithographic and Printing Office. In 1852 Ernst Georg Ravenstein (1834–1913) was apprenticed to him, then in 1855 he went into the service of the Topographical Department of the British War Office. Petermann's firm published, among other things, maps for the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society and through this he established lifelong relationships with many scientists, politicians and explorers. In 1847, he became a member of the RGS. When he was 28 in 1850 he was elected under-Secretary. In 1868 he was awarded with the prestigious 'Founders medal' of the RGS. Queen Victoria, at the suggestion of Robert Bunsen, appointed him 'physical geographer-royal'. Early in his career, Petermann already wanted to further the cause of geographical exploration as shown by his concern for and interference with James Richardson's expedition. The purpose of this expedition, which was supported by the British government, was to negotiate trade treaties with the rulers of the middle Sudan. Petermann, supported by Carl Ritter and Robert Bunsen, pleaded with the British government to let Heinrich Barth and Adolf Overweg join up with Richardson’s expedition to assure that geographical and scientific aspects which they might encounter were taken care of. When still affiliated with the Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Erdkunde, he published their progress in this journal, and when he started his very influential, Petermanns geographische Mitteilungen. This journal, which still exists today, greatly influenced the development of scientific geography and cartography in Germany in the nineteenth century. Numerous articles have been published by recognized experts in this field, along with a multitude of illustrations, showing maps, prints and photographs. The journal developed into an important publication, setting the standard in the history of the great expeditions and discoveries, and European colonial matters. His long stay in Britain made him familiar with the best in British and German geography, and as he was fluent in both languages and having learnt French helped him to read widely.
