New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago Cook/Benard, 1774, Carte des Découvertes du Cap.ne Carteret dans la N.le Bretagne (..)

Large 18th century copper engraved map of New Guinea and surrounding islands from the first French edition of James Cook's first voyage in which he charted New Zealand and the east coast of Australia.

The map depicts parts of the coast line of (Papua and Indonesian) New Guinea and the larger islands New Britain and Latangai Island.

The map is engraved by Bénard for the French edition of Hawkesworth's important work 'An Account of the Voyages for making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere', first published 1773.

After visiting Tahiti, Cook's brief was to search for the 'Terra Australis Incognita'. Sailing west he accurately mapped New Zealand for the first time, then moved north, discovering the east coast of Australia.

Excellent condition

Image 21,5x60,5cm, page 26x67cm