Acquired From: Gowrie Galleries
Colouring: Coloured
Condition: Good
Confirmed: Yes
Date Acquired: 9/12/2003
Dealers ID No.: M136 (STK 1433.01)
Description: Louis de Freycinets general map of Australia reflects the extensive surveys and coastal explorations conducted by the French during the expedition to the southern hemisphere led by Nicolas Baudin between 1800 and 1804. Commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, the scientific expedition comprised two shipsLe Géographe, under Baudins command, and Le Naturaliste, captained by Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin.nThe expedition reached the western coast of Australia, (now Geographe Bay) in May 1801 and commenced detailed survey work along the western shoreline before continuing north to Timor. From Timor, the ships sailed south in November 1801, charting the coastline toward Van Diemens Land (present-day Tasmania), arriving at Bruny Island in January 1802 and Maria Island in February. In March, Le Géographe separated from Le Naturaliste and headed northwest to Wilsons Promontory (Victoria), initiating the French survey of the largely uncharted southern coast of Australia, between Wilsons Promontory and the Nuyts Archipelago. It was during this leg of the voyage, in April 1802, that Baudin encountered British navigator Matthew Flinders at Encounter Bay, both parties unaware of each others expeditions prior to meeting.nLe Géographe then sailed to Sydney, where it rendezvoused with Le Naturaliste in late June 1802. In November, Le Naturaliste departed for France with the bulk of collected specimens. Baudin acquired a smaller vessel, Casuarina, from Governor King, named , which then joined Le Géographe in continuing survey work around King Island, Kangaroo Island, King George Sound, and Shark Bay, before returning north to Timor and ultimately setting sail for France. Baudin died en route in 1803.nNaturalist François Péron assumed responsibility for the expeditions official account, publishing the first volume of Voyage de découvertes aux Terres Australes in 1807. After his death in 1810, Freycinet took over the remaining volumes, including Partie Navigation et Géographie, which appeared in 1811 with a second atlas containing this general map of Australia and a detailed chart of the southern coastline, labelled Terre Napoléon (View Record (#169)). nFreycinets narrative of the expedition was not released until 1816, completing the four-volume publication series that documented the Baudin expedition.nThe map is decorated in the lower left by an allegorical vignette designed by Charles Lesueur, depicting the French Imperial Eagle bearing a title banner, beneath which appear three ships and local Australian fauna. Freycinets map is not only one of the earliest comprehensive French representations of Australia but also a visual assertion of Frances imperial and scientific presence in the region.
Engraver: Tardieu, Pierre Francois (1757-1822)
First published: Voyage de découvertes aux terres australes. Historique. Atlas. Part II, Paris: Langlois, 1811
Image Size (cm): 74.5×50
Mapmaker: Freycinet, Louis Claude (1779-1841)
Notes: (Framed)
Price: A19,000 plus gst
Primary Category: Australia
Purchase Reference: Inv. 1994
Rarity: R3 Uncommon – dealers can usually obtain a copy
References: Rupert Gerritsen and Peter Reynders, The Freycinet Map of 1811 Is It the First Complete Map of Australia?, Australia on the Map, 2012, 120.nHordern House Catalogue
Sheet size (cm): 83×56.5
Technique: Copper Engraving
This state: 1811
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