Catalog Archive
Auction 144, Lot 282

"Vue de la Riviere d'Endeavour sur la Cote de la Nouvelle Hollande ou le Vaisseau Fut Mis a la Bande", Cook, James (Capt.)

Subject: Endeavour River, Australia

Period: 1774 (circa)

Publication: Relation des Voyages Entrepris par Ordre de Sa Majeste Britannique

Color: Black & White

Size:
13 x 8 inches
33 x 20.3 cm
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This view was captured by Sydney Parkinson, an artist who sailed with Captain James Cook on his first voyage. Parkinson and fellow artist Alexander Buchan were employed by naturalist Joseph Banks to document the sights and discoveries of new plants, animals, and indigenous people during Cook's voyage. Although Parkinson's specialty was botanicals, he was asked to draw fauna, flora, portraits and landscapes after Buchan (a topographical draughtsman) died in Tahiti. Parkinson made over 1300 drawings and sketches during the voyage before dying of dysentery in January 1771. Parkinson is credited as the first to draw an authentic Australian landscape and the first to portray aboriginals based on direct observation.

This view depicts Cook's ship, the Endeavour, careened for repairs on the shore of the Endeavour River on the coast of Queensland. On June 11, 1770, the Endeavour struck a reef within the Great Barrier Reef system, causing a hole in the hull of the ship. Cook and his crew spent several weeks on the shore of the Endeavour River making repairs before heading north to Batavia. Engraved by Pierre Jacques Duret. This view was first published in the English edition of Account of the voyages undertaken by the order of His present Majesty for making discoveries in the southern hemisphere by John Hawkesworth in 1773, which was republished in French the following year.

References:

Condition: B+

A nice impression, issued folding, with a hint of toning along one fold and very minor soiling.

Estimate: $300 - $400

Sold for: $220

Closed on 4/3/2013

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