Mappe monde Divisée en ses quatre Parties 1792
[World map divided into its four parts 1792]
Paris [OR] Brussels [?]: Libraires Associés [OR] LE FRANCQ, Benoît [?], 1792 (dated)
Size (neatline): 28.6 x 14.7 cm / 11.3 x 5.8 in
Size (sheet): 33.5 x 20.6 cm / 13.2 x 8.1 in
Technique: Copper engraving
Colour: Hand coloured
Verso: Blank
Condition: Fine
Handsome double-hemisphere map of the world, reflecting Cook’s discoveries
Description
Created by an unknown cartographer, this world map displays some of the Western civilization’s newly gained geographic knowledge following Captain James Cook’s third Pacific voyage yet also shows continuing gaps of it.
Notable features include:
- Greenland and the Arctic are attached to North America, negating the possibility of a northwest passage.
- Alaska’s outline is still sketchy.
- The Bering Strait is identified, shown as detroit de Bhering.
- Hawaii is identified, named Is. Sandwich.
- The only cities named in North America are Quebec, Boston, New Orleans, and Mexico City.
- There is an early, incomplete identification of the South Sandwich Islands, shown as T. de Sandwich, i.e. “Sandwich Land”, as named by Cook.
- Hokkaido is named Yeso, i.e. a spelling variant of its historical name of Ezo.
- The Endeavour Strait is identified, shown as detroit de l’Endeavour.
- Australia appears as Nouv. Hollande, i.e. “New Holland”, with Tasmania attached to it and appearing as Terre de Diemen.
- While the Australian coastline is shown as complete, it is truncated in the east and still conjectural in the south, pre-dating Flinders’ respective expedition and survey by 10 years.
- Botany Bay features.
- New Zealand is correctly represented as two islands, but their orientation is off. The coastlines, while complete, lack significant detail.
Engraved by H. Godin.
A decorative world map, showing the latest western geographic insights of the time.
Publication
Dictionnaire géographique-portatif, ou Description des royaumes, provinces, villes, évêchés, duchés, comtés, marquisats, villes impériales, ports, forteresses, citadelles, et autres lieux considérables des quatre parties du monde [“Nouvelle édition”, 1792] [?]
[OR]
Dictionnaire géographique portatif, ou Description des royaumes, provinces, villes, patriarchats, évêchés, duchés, comtés, marquisats, villes impériales et anséatiques, ports, forteresses, citadelles, et autres lieux considérables des quatre parties du monde [“Nouvelle édition”, 1792] [?]
Note: Image shows pagination annotation (T. 1. Page 1.) in top right corner.
Condition
Fine.
A clear impression on a clean sheet with wide margins. Issued folding. Beautifully coloured. No visible flaws, and no repairs. Verso clean.
Item #: 02714
US $300.00