Description
Rare engraving from the French edition of the accounts of Cook’s first voyage, published (1774) the year after the English edition (1773).
The title in the English versions was:
[A View of Matavai Bay in Otaheite from One Tree Hill].
View of Matavai Bay taken from Otaharra or One-Tree Hill, Tahiti. Cook arrived at Otaheite on 13 April 1769 to measure the transit of Venus across the Sun’s sphere on 3 June, an event which occurred only twice within eight years and once every 120 years.
Reference; Joppien 1.29C ill.p. 101 (English edition)
From Hawkesworth, Relation des Voyages Entrepris par ordre de Sa Majeste Britannique Actuallement Regnante:..
