Cook, James

This is a 1773 Captain James Cook set of two maps of the entrance to the Endeavour River and Botany Bay in Australia, both of which Cook discovered on his first voyage. Each map focuses on its respective region, with the Endeavour River on the left and Botany Bay on the right. (more details)

This is a 1774 map of the Solomon Islands, renamed by Carteret after his 'rediscovery' of the islands during his calamitous 1767 journey around the world. The map is beautifully engraved, with topography shown pictorially, and showning predominant winds. The map shows the track of HMS Swallow through the islands; there is a volcanic island shown centrally - this is Tinakula island, an island stratovolcano which last erupted in 2012 and whose earliest recorded eruption dates to the Álvaro de Mendaña expediion of 1595 . (more details)

This 1774 Hawkesworth map of the Strait of Le Maire details the passage through the strait made by Lieutenant Cook (1728-1779) during his 1769 circumnavigation aboard HMS Endeavor. This, Cook's first Pacific voyage, was undertaken in order to observe the 1769 transit of Venus from Tahiti. The relevant portion of the voyage diverged sharply from its precursors, in that Cook took Endeavor through the Strait of Le Maire, rather than that of Magellan, thereafter sailing south to find evidence of the legendary Terra Australis Incognita. (more details)

This is a 1774 map showing the explorations of Captains Cook, Byron, Wallis, and Carteret in the vicinity of Tahiti and the Society Islands from 1765 to 1769. The chart extends from the Scilly Islands in the west to Whitsunday Island in the east and from Tepoto Island in the north to Oheiroa in the south. Each of the circumnavigators' tracks is shown as they tacked through the islands. Tahiti, Bora Bora, Otaha, Marma, Ulietea, and other islands are named and shown. These voyages represented the first recorded European contacts with many of these remote places. (more details)

This 1774 map of the Straits of Magellan reveals the discoveries made by Captains Samuel Wallis (1728-1795) John Byron (1723-1786) and Captain James Cook (1728-1779) during their respective voyages. In compiling the data of these three explorers, Hawkesworth's chart presented the best knowledge of this important and storied passage. This large and boldly engraved piece shows in detail the treacherous coasts of southern Patagonia and of Tierra del Fuego, replete with soundings, channels, anchorages and small islands. Recognition views are provided for Cabo Virgenes, White Cliffs, Cape Fair Weather at the mouth of the Rio Gallego, and A view of Puerto del Hambre. The coastline is full of detail and colorful place names, such as 'Cape Victory' and 'Piss Pot Bay.' (more details)

This is a 1774 nautical map of the discoveries of Captain Carteret Captain James Cook in the East Indies, specifically the waters around Papua New Guinea. The earlier track of Captain Dampier (1699 and 1700) is also shown. (more details)

This is the 1774 first French edition of the first printed map of the mouth of the Endeavor River and the harbor of Botany Bay, discovered and named by the legendary navigator James Cook during his first voyage aboard the H.M.S. Endeavor. Both of these harbor charts are oriented to the north; they show depth soundings, the location of fresh water, and sandbars; topography and vegetation is shown pictorially (more details)

This is the 1774 first French edition of James Cook's seminal first map of New South Wales, Australia. Oriented to the West, the map extends from Cape York, Prince of Wales Island, and the Endeavour Straits to Point Hicks (Victoria). The map is a product of Cook's search for the often speculated upon southern continent or 'Terra Australis,' which scholars from the 16th century on believed, based upon ancient Greek texts, must exist at the base of the world.

After observing the Transit of Venus on June 3, 1769, Cook sailed westward, planning to return to England via the Cape of Good Hope, as he believed the Endeavour would not survive a second trip around Cape Horn. Instead he sailed west, where he hoped to discover Terra Australis. He sailed around New Zealand and headed for Tasmania, intending to follow up on Abel Tasman's work, when gales forced him northward. On April 19, 1770, his second, Zachary Hicks, signed land, what Cook immediately named Point Hicks. While Cook was most certainly aware he had not discovered 'Terra Australis', he did spend several months, from April 19 to August 22, 1770, mapping long sought east coast of New Holland (Australia), what he came to call New South Wales. He proceeded northwards, navigating the coast with great care, naming notable locations along the way.

It is of note that the coasts between Cape Flattery and Weymouth remains unmapped. This area is so full of small islands and dangerous reefs that Cook aptly named it 'The Labyrinth.' Just as he entered this area, near Cape Tribulation, the Endeavour struck a reef. On our map there is a note reading, 'On this ledge the ship laid 23 hours.' Rather than risk his ship further Cook sailed the Endeavour further out to sea, around the perilous reefs, landing at Cape York to officially name New South Wales and claim the land for England,

I now once more hoisted English Coulers and in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took possession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above Latitude [38] down to this place by the name of New South Wales, together with all the Bays, Harbors, Rivers, and Island s situate upon the said coast. (Cook, J., Journal, August 22, 1770)

Until this time it was assumed that Australia, or New Holland as it was known, was a barren wasteland, as the Dutch navigators had explored only a small part of the arid western coast. Cook on the other hand, sailed up the fertile east coast, and was impressed by what he saw. It was Cook who recommended settlement and persuaded Joseph Banks to argue for using the remote continent as a penal colony. This map is significant for Australia collectors as the first definitive mapping of the coasts of New South Wales. Cook's nomenclature largely remains in use today. The map notes both Botany Bay and Port Jackson. (more details)

This is the 1774 first French edition of James Cook's seminal first map of New South Wales, Australia. The map is a product of Cook's search for the often speculated upon southern continent or 'Terra Australis,' which scholars from the 16th century on believed, based upon ancient Greek texts, must exist at the base of the world. This map is significant for Australia collectors as the first definitive mapping of the coasts of New South Wales. (more details)

This is the 1774 first French edition of the first chart to detail the Great Barrier Reef, discovered by the legendary navigator James Cook during his first voyage aboard the H.M.S. Endeavor. This west-oriented chart captures the great explorer's difficult journey along the coast of Australia from Cape Tribulation to Cape York, during which he became the first European to navigate - with difficulty, and under duress - the Great Barrier Reef, which he tellingly named 'The Labyrinth.' (more details)

This is the 1774 first French edition of James Cook's landmark chart of Cook Strait, one of the most consequential maps produced from his first voyage to the Pacific (1768 - 1771). When Cook sailed through the passage between New Zealand's North and South Islands in 1770, he resolved a fundamental geographical question left unanswered since Abel Tasman's 1642 encounter with New Zealand: the two great landmasses were separated by a navigable strait. Centered on the passage that would bear Cook's name and the superb natural harbor of Queen Charlotte Sound (Totaranui), this chart records the exploration that transformed European understanding of New Zealand's geography. (more details)

This is a 1775 Sayer and Bennett chart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, compiled from an array of surveys recorded over the preceding 25 years, including the 1763-5 surveys of Captain James Cook. (more details)

This is the suppressed 1784 first edition of Henry Roberts and Captain James Cook's legendary 'Lost Map', issued separately by London publisher William Faden. This is the first map to illustrate the discoveries of Samuel Herne on the Coppermine River. The chart was censured due to the political machinations of the powerful Hudson Bay Company, which had a sustained interest in keeping Herne's voyage secret as it disproved the notion that an inland water route might connect the Hudson Bay with the Pacific, thus threatening the HBC's stock value. (more details)

This is a 1788 Rigobert Bonne map of the Hawaiian Islands, presenting the islands as they were recorded during the third and final voyage of Captain James Cook. The map includes the entire archipelago: Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Nihau. The track followed by Cook's expedition appears, with dates appended. An inset map of the Bay of Karakakooa is situated in the lower left. (more details)

This is a rare c. 1795 Dutch edition of a map of the Friendly Islands (Tonga) prepared by Captain James Cook, based on his voyage to the islands in 1773 - 1774. It was originally published in 1777 in tandem with Cook's account of his voyages, A voyage towards the South pole, and round the world. (more details)

This is a beautiful c.1835 manuscript map depicting Port Palliser and Christmas Harbor on the Kerguelen Islands or Desolation Islands. Essentially two maps on a single sheet, the left map features Port Palliser with smaller islands nearby, while the right map ... (more details)

This is a lovely c.1835 manuscript map depicting the Taloo Harbor on the north side of Mo’orea or Eimeo Island, part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. The map identifies Taloo and beautifully notes coastal features and numerous depth soundings ... (more details)