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 important map documents the first European discovery of the east coast of Australia. It is oriented with north to the right and covers from Cape Howe to Cape York. It shows the routes of the Endeavor with place names bestowed by Cook, including Botany Bay (Bay de la Botanque), which was named for the large quantities of plants located there. This chart of the coast of New South Wales was issued in the French edition of Cook's Voyages, 1774-89.

References: Tooley (Australia) p. 47 #342.

Condition: B+

Issued folding on a sturdy sheet with a birdhouse watermark and light offsetting and foxing. There is light toning along one of the folds at bottom and along the edges of the sheet.