Captain James Cook (1728-1779) is best known for his three voyages to the Pacific (1768-71; 1772-75; and 1776-79). His discoveries radically changed the western understanding of the world in the late 18th century. He was the first to circumnavigate and chart New Zealand and provided the earliest European accounts of exploration along the eastern coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. On February 14th, 1779, he was killed on Hawaii after attempting to kidnap the chief of the island.

Many contemporary accounts of Cook’s voyages, including charts and engravings, appeared in the late 18th century. The first official account of Cook’s first voyage was published in 1773 by John Hawkesworth in Volumes II and III of An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere... William Strahan and Thomas Cadell published the first official accounts of the second and third voyages in 1777 and 1784. Accounts of his exploration were subsequently translated into French, German, and Dutch.

This attractive chart shows Macao in plan form along with nearby islands. Soundings, anchorages, shoals, routes, and more appear in the water. There are navigation notes at bottom left, as well as a note indicating that Macao's harbor was drawn by eye. Engraved by Benard.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.COOK-4a #20.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression, issued folding, on watermarked paper with a binding trim at lower left replaced with old paper and an associated 1.5" binding tear repaired on verso with archival material. A small rust spot is visible along the left border.