Melchisedech Thévenot was a French author, scientist, traveller,

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Colouring: Uncoloured

Condition: Good

Confirmed: No

Description: Melchisedech Thévenot was a French author, scientist, traveller, cartographer, orientalist, inventor, and diplomat. He was also a tireless scholar with an insatiable curiosity about the world. Among his many achievements, his 1663 publication of Relation de divers voyages curieux stands out as a monumental work that compiled various travel accounts and discoveries from around the world. nIncluded volume 1 was an abridged translation of Francisco Pelsaert's harrowing account of the 1629 Batavia shipwreck and mutiny titled La terre Australe descouverte par le capitaine Pelsart. Of particular significance in this section was Thévenots inclusion of a map based on Abel Tasman's 1644 voyage.nTitled Hollandia Nova Terre Australe the map documents key Dutch explorations in Australia and the Cape York Peninsula including:n Dirk Hartog (1616): The first European known to have set foot on the western coast of Australia, naming it "'t Landt van Eendracht" (Land of Eendracht).n Frederick de Houtman (1619): Conducted further explorations along the west coast.n The Leeuwin (1622): A Dutch ship whose name was given to the southwestern cape of Australia, now known as Cape Leeuwin.n Jan Carstenszoon and Willem Joosten van Colster (1623): Explored northern Australia, including Cape York and Arnhem Land.n Pieter Nuyts (1627): Mapped parts of the southern coast of Australia, known for his journey on the 't Gulden Zeepaert (Golden Seahorse).n Gerrit Frederikszoon de Witt (1628): His discoveries contributed to mapping part of the Australian coastline, leading to the designation "G.F. de Wits Land."n Abel Tasman (1644): Famous for his voyages that resulted in the mapping of Tasmania (originally named Van Diemen's Land) and parts of New Zealand. The chart incorporated Tasmans discoveries, designating Australia as Hollandia Nova: detecta 1644 (New Holland: discovered in 1644).nThévenots map underwent several revisions, with Simon Dewez identifying six distinct states:nFirst State (ca. 1663, see View Record (#171)): Lacks rhumb lines and the Tropic of Capricorn (though the name is present). The latitude numbering contains an error, with "3" missing and "4" incorrectly placed where "5" should be. Tasmans track is also absent.nSecond State (ca. 1664): Introduces the Tropic of Capricorn but still omits rhumb lines. The latitude numbering error remains uncorrected.nThird State ca. (1666): Corrects the latitude numbering, adds rhumb lines, but excludes the Triall Islands.nFourth State (ca. 1672-1674, this map): Incorporates the Triall Islands.nFifth State ca. (1683): Adds the number "19" in the top right corner.nSixth State ca. (1696): Charts Tasmans first voyage 1642-1643.nVerso are five genealogical trees: 1. Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad under Seljuk rule.2. Ghaznavid dynasty genealogical tree. 3. List of sultans of the Great Seljuk Empire. 4. List of Nizari Ismaili imams. 5. List of sultans of Ottoman Empire. The last in this list is Mehmed IV who reigned from 1648 to 1687.

First published: Thévenot, Melchisédech Relation de diverse voyages curieux, Vol. 1. Paris: Jacques Langlois, 1663

Mapmaker: Thévenot, Melchisédech (1620-1692)

Notes: Purchase details

Primary Category: Southern Continent

References: Dew (2007), Reading Travels in the Culture of Curiosity, 3959.nDewez (2004), The Printed World V, 52, map 43nPerry (1982), The Discovery of Australia, 61

Sheet size (cm): 47.5×57.5

This state: 1672, Fourth