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 interesting lot focuses primarily on the Cook Islands, named in honor of Captain Cook, who traveled through the islands on his second and third voyages. The first sheet includes three small charts, featuring three Cook Islands-- Takutea (I. Wenooa Ette, Atiu ( I. Wateeoo), and Mangaia (Isle Mangeea)-- and Tubuai (Isle Toobouai) from the Austral Islands in French Polynesia. Each chart feature nice topographical detail and some navigational information. The second sheet is a striking engraving of a native man from Mangaia, his hair in a bun and a knife piercing through his ear. Both sheets are engraved by Benard.

A. [I. Wenooa Ette/ I. Wateeoo/ Isle Mangeea/ Isle Toobouai], (6.8 x 8.8"). Condition: A sharp impression with a few negligible spots.
B. Un Homme de Mangea, (6.9 x 9.0"). Condition: A nice impression with two small damp stains and a couple small worm holes, all confined to the blank margins.

References:

Condition: A

See description above.