Scarce German 18th century map of Oceania, with Australia named "Ulimaroa"

Description

This map of the western Pacific Ocean extends from East / Southeast Asia and Australia to Hawaii (Sandwich Inseln) and the Marquesas Islands (Mendozas od. Marquesas Inseln), and from the Kuril Islands to New Zealand. It is based on a 1780 map by Swedish cartographer Daniel Djurberg.

The map reflects the findings of all three of Cook’s voyages, showing the Australian east coast in detail, fully depicting New Zealand and portraying it as two main islands, outlining the islands of the South Pacific, and identifying the Hawaiian Islands. Being pre-Flinders, the map still shows Australia with a conjectured southern coastline and Tasmania (van Diemen’s Land) attached to the mainland. Papua New Guinea’s outline is lacking some detail, and New Zealand’s Stewart Island / Rakiura is attached to the South Island / Te Waipounamo.

Australia’s naming as Ulimaroa resulted from Daniel Djurberg’s misinterpretation of a Māori word recorded in Hawkesworth’s account of Cook’s first voyage. Believing it to denote a large land to the northwest of New Zealand, Djurberg assumed it to be Australia. Today, scholars generally think the original Māori term referred instead to another Pacific island, most plausibly Fiji’s Rotuma.

Noteworthy amongst the many placenames mentioned in Australia is the appearance of Parramatta and Rosehill (Rosehügel od. Rose Hill) – two of the oldest European settlements in present-day Sydney.

The map’s title cartouche, at top left, notes that it was published with privilege by the Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (Mit Röm.[isch] Kayserl.[icher] Freyheit.).

At top right, there is a legend, mostly defining abbreviations.

At bottom left, there is another cartouche, holding two distance scales and providing a colour legend, identifying, in this order, the territories belonging Asia, western, central, and eastern Polynesia.

The map shows a graticule and features the equator as well as the two tropics. Greenwich is used as the prime meridian.

Engraved by Johann Lorenz Jacob Rausch.

A rare map with a curious background to the toponymy used for “Down Under”.

Rarity

Djurberg’s map was published in Swedish in 1780, in French in 1789, and in German in 1790. The present Canzler and updated successive versions, first published by Homann Heirs, then by their successor Christoph Fembo, appeared in 1795, 1806, and 1813. The map is seen only infrequently in any of these editions on the market.

Condition

Good.

Printed on watermarked paper, issued folding and coloured. A few light spots and stains, mostly at bottom centre. Several tears at bottom centre (one reaching 14 cm / 5.5 in into image) closed with tape on verso.

Item #: 02863

US $1,300.00

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