Limited Editions: affordable antique-style maps.
It is always nice to be able to afford an original antique copperplate engraving of a map or chart. However, it is not necessary to deprive yourself of their enjoyment simply through shortage of funds. Comfort yourself by the fact that many of the most sought after early maps are very rarely seen. These days, many of the more popular and decorative maps are available as reproductions. More importantly, the few really special maps that are important in chronicling the discovery of early Australia (and Brisbane, Queensland), have been published as Limited Editions, and are available under the banner of Decorator Art from www.antiqueprintclub.com.
When the journals and charts of a voyage were originally published, they were often produced by a collaboration of many individuals. A map may have been surveyed, drawn, and engraved by three different people, for an atlas edited by a fourth, published by a fifth, and sometimes later reissued by a sixth. “Original” indicates a map was printed onto a piece of paper from an engraved plate at the original publication date specified. Otherwise it would be a reprint from one of the early publications of a map - either a Limited Edition (still guaranteeing its relative rarity) or an open edition (the majority of reproduction prints from maps).
In addition to the identification of the period the paper was made, a map dealer will be able to identify a chart by the wording at the base (usually including the name of the engraver, and sometimes the person who drew the map), and also the ‘cartouche’ or title piece (usually including the date of publication and the publisher). Accurate identification and age of a map is assisted by any words on it - sometimes even by geographical additions or corrections of an earlier map.
In the case of one of the more important maps of early Australia, the two groups of wording in the spaces where there had been no landmass discovered identifies the English edition of Hollandia Nova. Terra Australis circa 1744 by Emanuel Bowen (fl.1714-1767). This was the first time Australia appeared in English on a map; with Australia shown by itself and not as part of Asia or the world. It was published previously in French circa 1663, in “Relations de divers Voyages Curieux” by Melchisidec Thevenot (c1620-1692), who was a traveller and author of books on the early voyages of discovery – in this case as considered “Curious”! Although most of the maps published by Thevenot were not of his creation, they were nevertheless exceptionally interesting. This map included Abel Tasman’s important chartings of the southern coastline of the mainland and the northern coastline of the island state of Tasmania to the south, between 1642 and 1644.
One of the finest English navigators, James Cook’s charts from his voyages changed everyone’s knowledge of the Great Southern Ocean. In the Endeavour, during his first voyage from 1768 to 1771, the whole of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia were charted with unprecedented and meticulous accuracy. Limited Edition maps are available of both of Cook’s maps of the east coast of Australia - the first is full length of the coastline, and the second is his small chart, detailing from Cape Tribulation just south of the Endeavour River, to the Endeavour Straits at Cape York in the north.
In the Resolution and Adventure during his second voyage between 1772 and 1775, Cook finally refuted the theory of the great landmass covering the southern pole by charting the northern limitations of Antarctica. In the Resolution and Discovery, between 1776 and his death in Hawaii in 1779, he accomplished the incredible charting of the islands across the width of the Pacific Ocean. Having followed the development of navigational instruments, Cook successfully used the sextant on his first voyage and Harrison’s chronometer on his second voyage; and adapted trigonometric principles with his own surveys to chart, with remarkable accuracy, the coastlines he discovered. His glowing accounts of the land he saw along the east coast of Australia, resulted in the commencement of settlement in Australia. At Port Jackson, Sydney, on 26th January 1788, Governor Phillip proclaimed the east coast “New South Wales” in the name of Britain.
Some years later in 1823, the Surveyor-General of this colony, John Oxley, was sent north to search for sites to expand the settlement. Oxley found “a fine river of major proportions.. in northern New South Wales, New Holland.. and named the river in honour of Governor Brisbane.” The French were very interested in New Holland as it was then called. Oxley’s map, finely engraved with depth soundings, was first published in Paris circa 1824 in Louis Duperrey’s “Voyage autour du Monde.. Atlas Hydrographie”, the narrative of Duperrey’s voyages that included charts of newly surveyed regions of the world. “Chart of the Brisbane River.. Discovered by John Oxley, Geographical Engineer at Port Jackson, December 1823” appeared as “Plan de la Riviere Brisbane (Nouvelle Hollande)”.
Charting any new area began with an idea, developed to a challenge, required much research, funding, appointment of a Commander for the voyage, decision on a choice of sailing vessels, finding a crew, and procuring necessary equipment and supplies. When we consider the mammoth task with relatively small ships, sailing off into unknown seas, navigating by the stars and the skill of the navigators, whilst maintaining the health and discipline of what was by all accounts a rather motley bunch on board, we must all agree that early explorers conquered amazing obstacles to make their discoveries. Undoubtedly this all contributes to our fascination with maps today.
