Bilder James Cook (1728–1779) – Map of New Guinea and New Britain – Etching (1774)

Beskrivning

"Carte des Decouvertes du Capne. Carteret dans la Nlle. Bretagne" depicts a large, fold-out nautical chart of the northern coast of New Guinea and the islands of New Britain and New Ireland. The composition illustrates the passage through the Dampier Strait and includes detailed coastal outlines, numerous named bays, and geographic features such as Cape Stephens and the Treasury Islands. Nautical tracks indicating the routes of exploration vessels are marked across the sea, and a descriptive note explains the shaded areas representing new discoveries. This etching was published in Paris by Panckoucke as part of the French edition of the official account of Cook’s first voyage. The work remains a significant historical record of eighteenth-century maritime efforts to map the complex archipelagos of the western Pacific.

James Cook was a preeminent British explorer, navigator, and cartographer who rose to the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy. He is best known for commanding three historic voyages of discovery across the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. Cook’s meticulous approach to map-making and his use of advanced navigational instruments revolutionized the field of hydrography. His published journals and charts provided the Western world with an unprecedented level of geographic knowledge, fundamentally reshaping the global map of the eighteenth century.

Artist or Maker: James Cook.

Dimensions: Approximately 68 cm x 25 cm.

Medium: Etching.

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.