New Zealand, North Island Le Veau, 1774, Pirogue de Guerre de la Nouvelle Zelande

This interesting 18th century copper engraving shows a striking image of a Maori War Canoe, near Gable End Foreland on the North Island, from the first French Edition of Cook's explorations in New Zealand.

Parkinson's famous image of an ornately carved Maori war canoe with high stern on the right, eight occupants standing and about twenty eight seated. All figures wear feathers in their hair and six are cloaked. The original title in the English versions was: A War Canoe of New Zealand with a view of Gable End Foreland. The ingenuity of these people appears in nothing more than than in their canoes: they are long and narrow, and in shape much resemble a New England whale boat: the larger sort seem to be built chiefly for war, and will carry from forty to eighty, or an hundred armed men. We measured one which lay at Tolaga: she was sixty-eight feet and an half long, five feet broad, and three half feet deep; the bottom was sharp, with strait sides like a wedge, and consisted of three lengths, hollowed out about two inches, or an inch and half thick, and well fastened together with strong plaiting: each side consisted of one entire plank, sixty-three feet long, ten or twelve inches broad, and about an inch and quarter thick and these were fitted and lashed to the bottom part with great dexterity and strength.' Hawkesworth I, p.462-464, March 1770.

This engraving was engraved by Le Veau for the 1774 French edition of Hawkesworth's 1773 account of Cook's voyages: Cartes et figures des voyages entrepris par ordre de Sa Majesté Britannique, actuellement régnante, pour faire des découvertes dans l'hémisphère méridional, et successivement exécutés par le commodore Byron, le capitaine Carteret, le capitaine Wallis, & le capitaine Cook, dans les vaisseaux le Dauphin, le Swallow, & l'Endeavour. Rédigés d'après les journaux tenus par les différens commandans … Papier de M. Banks. Paris, Saillant et Nyon, Panckoucke, 1774]

It follows the 1772-1773 English edition engraved by William Whitchurch and published in 1773.

Excellent condition. Some light age browning in the margins. Folded as published. Thick paper.

Image 22x30cm, page 25,5x37cm