Chart Shewing the Track of the Waaksamhey'd Transport from Port Jackson in New South Wales to Batavia, in 1792.

Stockdale, John

Published by Publication Date: 1792

Important map of Australia and one of only a handful of pre c.19th maps to focus solely on Australia and curiously shown upside down with Tasmania joined to the mainland. The east coast is shown with the discoveries made by James Cook on his first voyage and a number of the early Dutch discoveries are shown: Hartog 1616, Houtman 1619, van Leeuwin 1622, Nuyts 1627, de Witt 1628 (incorrectly dated 1618), and Tasman 1642-1644. After HMS Sirius under the command of John Hunter, had run aground on a reef at Norfolk Island on 19 March 1790, the ships company were consequently unable to leave the island for a year. Hunter finally left 27 March 1791 on the hired Dutch vessel the Waaksamhey'd and steered a longer course to Batavia via the north coast of New Guinea and the Philippines., the tracks of his course are shown on the map. On his return to England, Hunter was court-martialed over the loss of the Sirius but was honourably acquitted of all blame. During his forced stay, Hunter made a detailed survey of the island and in his dispatch of 1 March 1791, Phillip recorded Hunter's suggestion of a safer landing place at Cascade Bay. References: Perry, T. & Prescott, D. A guide to maps of Australia in books published 1780-1830. Canberra 1996 1792.07, p.68. Tooley, R.V. The Mapping of Australia. London 1979 1210. Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 152. Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 857. Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 13. Collections: National Library Australia: Bib ID 287900 State Library Victoria: RARELTF 994.02 H91H State Library South Australia: Map 429565 Image Size: 250mm x 215mm (9.8" x 8.4"). Paper Size" 285mm x 235mm (11.2" x 9.2"). Condition: Insignificant small repaired tear at top sheet edge to map, printers crease at bottom, otherwise in good condition, with a wide top margin which is usually cropped to the map. Technique: Copper engraving. Seller Inventory # HAHJO MAP 265 AM

Bibliographic Details

Title: Chart Shewing the Track of the Waaksamhey'd ...
Publication Date: 1792
Binding: No Binding
Condition: Very Good