The History of New Holland from its first discovery in 1616 to the present time…

Acquired From: Gowrie Galleries

Colouring: Coloured

Condition: Good

Confirmed: No

Date Acquired: 1/12/

Dealers ID No.: M35 (STK 92.23)

Description: The book is often erroneously attributed to William Eden because his Principles of Penal Law are in the preface, however the book's author is unknown. The book was published on the eve of the departure of the First Fleet for New South Wales in 1787 and the content is a compilation of the works of previous authors of all that was known of New Holland. The interest lies in the author's preface, listing convict ships and its promotion of Botany Bay; it deals directly with the plan for settlement at Botany Bay, discussing new possibility of discoveries in natural history, and converting the natives, 'who were never found to possess a single trace of religious worship…' nInside the book are two coloured fold-out maps engraved by John AndrewsnMap 1: The map shows New Holland with the east coast linked via a dotted line to Van Diemans Land. Most of James Cook's place names are given as well as the major Dutch discoveries. The southern coast is shown as a dotted line, from Pieter Pieter Nuyts discoveries in 1627 at present day Ceduna to Abel Tasman's first voyage discoveries in 1642 of Van Diemen's land shown joined to the mainland. The inset map is of Botany Bay taken from the account of Cook's first voyage by John Hawkesworth. nMap 2: The map shows the intended voyage of the First Fleet to Botany Bay and was made to capitalise on the public interest in New Holland and the penal colony that was going to be established at Botany Bay. The Australian continent is shown with Cook's discoveries on the east coast in 1769 as well as the Dutch.

Engraver: Andrews, John

First published: London: Printed for J. Stockdale, 1787

Image Size (cm): (1) 36×36 (2) 39×25.5

Mapmaker: Anonymous

Notes: Purchase details-date

Price: A8,800 plus gst

Primary Category: Book/Atlas

Purchase Reference: Inv. P19/32

Rarity: R3 Uncommon – dealers can usually obtain a copy

References: T. M. Perry and D. F. Prescott, A Guide to Maps of Australia in Books Published 17801830: An Annotated Cartobibliography (Canberra: National Library of Australia, 1996).

Sheet size (cm): (1) 40.5×38 (2) 41×31

Technique: Book

This state: 1787