Bidspirit auction | Dalrymple - Chart of the

Dalrymple - Chart of the Pacific Ocean from New Holland (Australia), New Zealand, to South America - This engraving is from Alexander Dalrymple's Voyages dans la Mer du Sud, par les Espagnols et les Hollandois , the first French publication of An Historical Collection of the Several Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean . The work was published in 1774 in Paris by Chez Saillant & Nyon and Pissot. This work was an important collection of Spanish and Dutch voyages and helped herald in the golden age of Pacific exploration. Dalrymple was a staunch believer in the existence of the ”Great Southern Continent”, and used this work and translation of several voyages accounts to help support his belief. He translated Spanish voyages including Magellan's voyage of 1519, Mendana in 1595, and De Quiros in 1606. He also translated the Dutch voyages of Le Maire, Schouten, Tasman, and Roggeveen. Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808) was a leading English hydrographer who spent most of his career with the East India Company. He was originally in line for Endeavour voyage that would instead go to Captain James Cook, due to his nautical experience. Dalrymple focused his efforts on research for this work, and published it before the return of Cook's voyage. The work was ”An Historical Collection [was] intended to stir up enthusiasm for the project of discovering and exploring the great southern continent (Terra Australis Incognita).” (Speake, Literature of Travel and Exploration, p.306) Paper Size: ~ 20” by 11 1/4” (Fold Out) Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving