"Entrance of Endeavour River, in New South Wales... [on sheet with] Botany Bay, in New South Wales...", Cook, James (Capt.)

This rare plate contains two charts on one sheet. The chart on the right is the depiction of Sydney Harbor when Cook first landed in Australia on April 29, 1769. Six locations for fresh water are noted as are several soundings in the harbor with shoals are delineated. Locates C. Banks and Pt. Solander which were named by Cook for his botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander. The chart on the left shows entrance of the Endeavour River in northern Queensland. It locates the "place where we Landed our Stores" and the place where we "Repair'd the Ship." Cook departed Botany Bay continuing northwards where, on June 11, the Endeavour ran aground on a shoal of the Great Barrier Reef. The ship was badly damaged and his voyage was delayed for seven weeks while repairs were accomplished on the site marked on this map. This is near the town of Cooktown. After the repairs were completed the voyage continued and resulted in Cook claiming the entire eastern coastline of Australia on August 22 for England. The return trip to England was via Batavia, the Cape of Good Hope and the island of Saint Helena, finally arriving July 12, 1771.

The two charts are within their own border (neatline) and are on a full sheet measuring 15.6" x 11.2". Engraved by Gibson & Bowen and published by John Hawkesworth in his Account of the Voyages Undertaken...in the Southern Hemisphere, which details the explorations of Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret, and Captain Cook.

References: Tooley (Australia) #326; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.HAWK-1a #25.1 & #25.2.

Condition: B+

A strong impression on watermarked paper with faint offsetting and light toning along the centerfold.