A Rare Pre-Cook Map Focusing on Australia. Australia. Jacques Nicolas Bellin, Carte Reduite des Terres Australes pour Servir a l'Histoire des Voyages, from Prevost's Histoire Generale des Voyages, 1753 (dated). Hand Color. This is one of the few 18th century maps to focus on the Australian continent prior to Cook's famous first voyage from 1768-1771. Mainland Australia is connected to both Tasmania (Terre de Van Diemen) and Papua New Guinea (Nouv. Guinee). Along the imaginary eastern coastline is a note that reads: "I suppose that the land of Diemen can join with the land of the Holy Ghost, but this is without proof." A partial coastline of New Zealand is shown peeking out of the corner of the map, with a note that it was discovered by Abel Tasmand in 1642 and speculation that it might be part of a great southern continent. This is an important map of Australia depicting the interesting theories made prior to exploration of the region later in the century.

LITERATURE: Tooley (Australia) p. 24, #156; Tooley (MCC-23) #80.

Issued folding on watermarked paper with a binding trim at upper right and a narrow top margin. Grade: A

7.9 x 10.9 in