Woman of the Island of Tanna.

Rare engraving from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s second voyage. All other later copies made of this image by other publishers were unauthorised, usually smaller and inferior in quality.

Portrait of a woman of Tana, where Cook was between 6 – 20 August 1774.

‘The Women have all the same ornaments as Men, Nose-Stones, Earrings, Shells on the Breast & Bracelets…their heads covered with a kind of cap made of a Plantain leaf or a Mat-Basket. Few are covered, & even very young Girls have these Caps. .’Cooks Journal II, p.505 August 1774.

References; Beddie 1381-45, p.267. Joppien pl.102,p.111

From Cook’s, 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.