This fine original
antique French edition Atlas of the 1st Voyage of
Captain James Cooks Voyage of discovery to the South
Seas was translated from the English by M Henry & M
Breton and published by V Lepetit. Paris in 1817 -
dated.
This atlas contains 22 (of 23) copper-plate engraved
prints, listed below.
The atlas covers have been removed with front title page
partially detached. Pages are generally clean with light
aging to borders, overall VG, 8vo, each page size is 7in
x 5in (180mm x 125mm)
Cooks first voyage of discovery was his most important
were he famously discovered and mapped the east coast of
Australia and New Zealand. The prints in order are;
1. Patagonia
2. Dauphin in
Tahiti
3. Captain Wallis
in Tahiti
4. Indians in
Terra Del Fuego
5. Bay of Matavia
6 & 21. Bread
fruit & Maori War Instruments
7. View of Tahiti
8 & 9 Military dress of Tahiti
10 & 11 Military &
everyday instruments from the south Seas
12. Way of burying the dead
13. N/A
14. View of Ulietea
15. House of Ulietea
16. View of Rocher Trove, NZ
17. Village on
Rocher Trove, NZ
18 & 19. Jade Engraving & Maori warrior of New Zealand
20. War canoe of New Zealand
22. Endeavour River, Queensland
Cook's First Voyage
(1768-1771)
The first voyage under
Captain James Cook's command was primarily of a
scientific nature. The expedition on the Endeavour
initially sailed to Tahiti to observe the transit of the
planet Venus in order to calculate the earth's distance
from the sun. Cook landed on the South Pacific island in
April of 1769 and in June of that year the astronomical
observations were successfully completed. In addition to
these labors, very good relations with the Tahitians
were maintained and the naturalists Joseph Banks and
Daniel C. Solander conducted extensive ethnological and
botanical research.
Another purpose of the voyage was to explore the South
Seas to determine if an inhabitable continent existed in
the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Upon
leaving Tahiti, Cook named and charted the Society
Islands and then continued southwest to New Zealand. His
circumnavigation and exploration of that country also
resulted in a detailed survey. Cook proceeded to
Australia, where he charted the eastern coast for 2,000
miles, naming the area New South Wales. As a result of
these surveys, both Australia and New Zealand were
annexed by Great Britain. In addition to these
explorations, the Endeavour returned to England
without a single death from scurvy among its men, an
historic feat at the time. The combination of these
accomplishments brought Cook prominence, promotion, and
the opportunity to lead further expeditions. (Ref
Clancy; Tooley; M&B)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: -
Colors used: -
General color appearance: -
Page size: - 7in x 5in (180mm x 125mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - Light age toning
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None
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