Description
First edition of this important Italian c.18th map showing the tracks and discoveries of Cook, Wallis, Byron and Carteret.
Noted are Cook’s discoveries on the east coast of Australia and New Zealand, Wallis’s discovery of Tahiti, Carteret’s discoveries of Pitcairn Island and his rediscovery of the Solomons which the Spaniard Mendana had sighted in 1568. Zatta, a Venetian cartographer based his information on Cook’s chart issued in the official accounts of the First Voyage published by John Hawkesworth on behalf of the British Admiralty. Decorative map showing Cook’s sea tracks of his first voyage made in 1769-70 where he completely charted New Zealand and discovered and charted the east coast of Australia. The map also shows the sea tracks of Commodore Byron with Captain Mouat in 1765 and later Samuel Wallis aboard the Dolphin partnering Phillip Carteret commanding the Swallow in 1767. The large decorative vignette in the lower right containing a number of plants, sea shells, a native in a sailing vessel and a three masted ship which presumably is intended to be a representation Cook’s, Endeavour.
From: Zatta, A. Atlante Novissimo. Venice
