Catalog Archive
Auction 207, Lot 253

Second Printed Chart of Hawaii

"A New Chart of the Sandwich Islands; Including Owhyhee, Where Captn. Cooke Was Killed on Sunday the 14th of February 1779", Harrison, John

Subject: Hawaii

Period: 1784 (dated)

Publication: The Geographical Magazine…

Color: Black & White

Size:
12.6 x 7.9 inches
32 x 20.1 cm
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This uncommon chart is Harrison's version of Henry Roberts' chart, which is considered the first printed chart of Hawaii. Roberts' chart appeared in the official account of Cook's voyages, first published in June 1784. Harrison's chart was published just one month later in William Frederick Martyn's (a pseudonym for William Fordyce Mavor) The Geographical Magazine; or, a New, Copious, Compleat and Universal System of Geography, printed for Harrison & Co. In contrast to Roberts' chart, Harrison omits the inset of Kealakekua Bay and focuses instead on the path of the Resolution and the Discovery when Captain Cook first visited the Sandwich Islands in January 1778. The chart also notes his second visit to the islands in February 1779, when he was killed by the natives at Kealalekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii (Owhyee). The islands appear with good topographical detail and a few place names, including the volcanoes Mauna Kea (Mowna Kaah) and Mauna Loa (Mowna Roa) on the main island. At around 2,000 square miles, Mauna Loa is considered to be the largest volcano on earth. Engraved by T. Woodman and H. Mutlow.

References: McCorkle (18th C. Geography Books) #268-23; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.MRT-1a #30.

Condition: A

A dark impression on a clean sheet with a fleur-de-lis watermark. Issued folding.

Estimate: $800 - $950

Sold for: $850

Closed on 2/11/2026

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