Bilder Captain James Cook (1728-1779) – Map of the Society Islands – South Pacific – Engraving (1774)

Beskrivning

"Carte des Isles decouvertes aux environs d'Otahiti, dans plusieurs Voyages faits autour du Monde Par les Capitaines Byron, Wallis, Carteret et Cook En 1765. 1767. 1769." This engraving provides a large-scale maritime chart of the Society Islands in the South Pacific, including Tahiti and surrounding archipelagos. The map tracks the specific routes taken by four major British explorers, with the track of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour clearly marked among the islands. This plate was published in the French edition of the official account of the voyages, printed in Paris by Saillant and Nyon. It serves as a primary cartographic record of the first European encounters with these islands, utilizing astronomical observations to establish their precise global coordinates for the first time.

Captain James Cook was a British naval officer, cartographer, and explorer who achieved international fame for his three voyages of discovery to the Pacific Ocean. He was renowned for his application of scientific methods to navigation and for his dedication to accurate coastal surveying under challenging conditions. His first voyage aimed to observe the transit of Venus and to search for the hypothesized southern continent, leading to the detailed charting of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia. Cook’s contributions revolutionized European understanding of global geography and established a legacy of rigorous maritime exploration and ethnographic documentation.

Artist or Maker: Captain James Cook.

Dimensions: Approximately 29 cm x 56 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1774.

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.