Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases and Globes for Sale at Auction

This uncommon pair of engravings depict the earliest views of Hawaii from Cook's third and final voyage. Cook explored Hawaii before heading north to explore the Pacific coast, where they tracked past the Bering Strait before being turned back by ice. The expedition then sailed south to Hawaii, where Cook was killed in a dispute with the natives at Karakakooa Bay on February 14th, 1779. Clerke, his second-in-command, took over the expedition and they surveyed further in Hawaii before returning north to continue the exploration for the Northwest Passage.

1) A View of Karakakooa, in Owyhee is a spectacular view of the bay where Cook met his end, showing his ships and the boats of the native Hawaiians as well as their village, and an early surfer. From the drawing by John Webber, engraved by William Byrne (20 x 9").
2) A Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, the Rowers Masked features the native Hawaiians wearing gourd and feather headdresses, with great detail of the outrigger canoe. From the drawing by John Webber, engraved by C. Grignion. (14.8 x 8.7").

Both with exceptional impressions on strong paper. View 1 with a little faint foxing, mostly confined to the margins. The margins are slightly deckled. View 2 is clean and bright with slightly trimmed margins and discoloration at the top margin, well away from the view. Both with hinge remnants on verso.


Ref: Nordyke, Views from Captain Cook's Third Voyage, pp. 124, 131.