MAPS Pacific NEW ZEALAND

The most complete and accurate printed map to record the discoveries made by Abel Tasman on his two voyages to Australia. Valentyn studied theology and travelled twice to the East Indies in the employ of the VOC, firstly as a Calvinist minister on the spice island of Amboina (1686-1694) and then to Java (1706) and again Amboina (1707-1713). In the preparation of his historical account of the VOC in the East, Valentyn was given privileged access to the secret archives of the company, enabling him to provide detailed information on previous Dutch voyages to the Indies, including those of Abel Tasman.

The map records the discoveries made by Tasman on his first voyage 1642-3, from Batavia to Mauritius and then south to the latitudes where the prevailing winds were known to blow. Tasman’s instructions were contained in the missive of the Governor-General and Council of the Indies to the Heren XVII of 12 December 1642, in which a brief summary of the plan for the voyage was given. The primary objectives of the VOC’s exploratory voyages had always been the opening up of new markets for trade while at the same time the updating of existing charts or creation of new charts.

Tasman’s first voyage resulted in the discovery of Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) and New Zealand which gave the southern and eastern geographical limits of the South Land and proved that it was not connected to Terra Australis. The results of the second voyage gave shape to Australia’s northern and northwest coasts. The shape of Australia on maps was then to remain virtually unchanged, without any significant discoveries until those of James Cook in 1770.

From Francois Valentyn’s historical account of the Dutch East India Company Oud en Nieuw Oost Indien.

References:

Schilder p.139-149, Tooley1270, ill.pl.95, Tooley 69, p.212, Tooley 47, p.288.

French edition of Cook'schart of Cook Strait, New Zealand. The first detailed printed chart of Cook's Strait which Tasman had entered in 1642 assuming it was a bay, anchored for the night. The next day finding themselves in a narrow passage they quickly took advantage of the wind and exited the strait. In doing so the Dutch did not find their passage to the Pacific they had sought from the Indies.
Tooley 341

Important map of New Zealand as explored by Cook, being the first after Tasman to show the correct shapes of the islands without any connection to the great Southern Continent. According to H. a re-drawn version of Cook's general chart of New Zealand as originally published by Strahan and Cadell in 1773.

From Atlante Novissimo.

References;

TOO TMOA 1433 ill Pl 104

D'urville Island to the Entrance of Queen Charlotte Sound.

Surveyed by Captain J.L. Stokes, Commander B. Drury, and the Officers of H.M.S. Acherson and Pandora 1849-53.

Reduced from the original drawings of E.J. Powell.

This rare map of New Zealand's south island is from the Picturesque Atlas of Australasian which was the most ambitious publishing venture in Australian history up to the 1900's. It was conceived and financed by American publishers under the name of the Picturesque Atlas Publishing Co Limited, Sydney and Melbourne. It's ambitious aims of using the best artists, the best paper, the finest printing engraving techniques and for it to be the most comprehensive survey of Australia's colonial history ensured that it inevitably was doomed to be a financial failure. The legacy that it left on the other hand was some of the finest engravings and maps printed in Australia in the C19th.

Large scale map of the south island with excellent detail. Inset of Chatham Islands, railway lines noted and counties shown.

This rare map is from the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia which was the most ambitious publishing venture in Australian history up to the 1900's. It was conceived and financed by American publishers under the name of the Picturesque Atlas Publishing Co Limited, Sydney and Melbourne. It's ambitious aims of using the best artists, the best paper, the finest printing engraving techniques and for it to be the most comprehensive survey of Australia's colonial history ensured that it inevitably was doomed to be a financial failure. The legacy that it left on the other hand was some of the finest engravings and maps printed in Australia in the C19th.