Bilder Captain James Cook – Chart of Cook’s Strait in New Zealand – Copperplate Engraving – 1784

Beskrivning

This finely engraved map presents Cook’s Strait, the narrow body of water separating New Zealand’s North and South Islands, as surveyed by Captain James Cook during his first voyage (1769–1770) aboard the HMS Endeavour. The chart includes coastal contours, islands, headlands, anchorages, and navigational notes based on Cook’s own measurements and observations. This particular version was published in 1784 in Alexander Hogg’s edition of Cook’s voyages, issued in London to bring the celebrated explorer’s discoveries to a broader audience.

The map exemplifies the extraordinary precision of Cook’s cartography and its significance for both maritime navigation and colonial expansion in the Pacific. It helped establish New Zealand’s geographic form in European minds and became one of the foundational references for future voyages and settlement.
Captain James Cook (1728–1779) was a British explorer and navigator whose three Pacific voyages set new standards for hydrographic accuracy and ethnographic documentation. Alexander Hogg, a London-based bookseller and publisher, was known for his affordable editions of popular travel and exploration literature, including illustrated versions of Cook’s journals.

Artist or Maker: Captain James Cook, Alexander Hogg (publisher)

Dimensions: 30 × 44 cm

Medium: Copperplate Engraving

Date: 1784

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.