Description
French edition of the James Cook’s most up to date map of Australia and the Pacific at the time of its publication in 1774.
Cook’s discoveries shown on this seminal map are those made on his first voyage in the Endeavour. On this first voyage Cook finally resolved the question of Terra Australis Incognito that had puzzled and intrigued explorers and cartographers for centuries. Officially, Cook was sent by the British Admiralty to observe the transit of Venus from Tahiti but prior to his departure he was given secret instructions which set out the true nature of his mission. They instructed that after observing the transit of Venus, he was to sail for the Great Southern Continent. In the event that he found the Continent, he should chart its coasts, obtain information about its people, cultivate their friendship and alliance, and annex any convenient trading posts in the King’s name. Cook first sighted the Australian east coast on 19 April 1770 after sailing west from New Zealand and then sailed north, anchoring at Botany Bay on 29 April 1770, before methodically charting the entire east coast. It was his observations while at Botany Bay that were later used by Joseph Banks to make the case for a penal colony. The voyage almost came to a fatal end when the Endeavour struck the Great Barrier Reef, which Cook subsequently named the Labyrinth. Fortunately, Cook was able to steer the ship clear to Endeavour River, near Cooktown, where she was careened for repairs.
Thursday 19, June 1770, Cooks Journals I, 3, 483;
‘..at six we saw land extending from
N.E. to W. at the distance of five of six leagues….The southernmost point of land in sight, which bore from us W.1/4S. I judged to lie in latitude 38°, longitude, 211°, 7′, and gave it the name of POINT HICKS, because Mr. Hicks, the First Lieutenant,
was the first who discovered it.’
From Hawkesworth, Relation des Voyages Entrepris par ordre de Sa Majeste Britannique Actuallement Regnante. Paris
References:
Beddie, M. Bibliography of Captain James Cook, RN,FRS, Circumnavigator. Sydney 1970: 659
Hakluyt Society, The Charts and Coastal Views of Captain Cook’s Voyages. Volume 1. The Voyages of the Endeavour 1768-1771
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974: 783
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967: 30940
Collections:
Bibliotheque Nationale de France: Identifier: 12148/bpt6k5493702m
National Library Australia: Bib ID 1680211
Te Papa Museum of New Zealand: Map Coll-NZGB-1/4/47/Acc.54733
State Library New South Wales: Call Numbers: RB/DQ990A/89
