A General Chart: Exhibiting the Discoveries made by Captn. James Cook in this and his two preceding Voyages; with the Tracks of the Ships under his Command by COOK, James and Henry Roberts - No Date [1784]

Area of exposed chart, shown within mat, measures 37.5" x 24". Reveals the routes of Cook's three voyages, starting with the Endeavour (1768-71), followed by the two voyages of the Resolution (1772-75 and 1776-80) with notes along the tracks ("Seagull Seen Here.") The West Coast of America is nearly barren, revealing only Monterey (location of Spanish mission) and Nootka Sound, where Cook noted in his journal that Chief Maquinna was wearing as a necklace a spoon of Spanish origin. Robert's began this chart under Cook's behest; after Cook's death in the Sandwich Islands, the Admiralty ensured Cook's work would be ecnompassed and memorialized with this chart. It was used in the official account of the third voyage, 1784.

When published, the most complete knowledge of world cartography. Captain James Cook's supreme achievement, in which during three voyages details of the Pacific Ocean became known to the world when published, posthumously, after the third voyage returned to England. The magnitude of Cook's discoveries are charted here, laying the groundwork for future non-native settlement in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, the Northwest Coast, etc. Indeed, his discovery of otter pelts, loaded at Nootka Sound and traded in Canton, can be viewed as the harbinger of trade between North America and China.

In the "Bibliography of Captain James Cook R.N., F.R.S., Circumnavigator" edited by M. K. Beddie and published by The Library of New South Wales (Second Edition, 1970), the plate is listed on page 330 as published in "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean ... for making discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere." In Wagner, "The Cartography of the Northwest Coast of America to 1800" (U of CA Press, 1937), the chart is listed as item 699, "drawn by Lieutenant Henry Roberts and engraved by William Palmer."

Provenance: Sold by a Hawaiian print seller, 1980s, with their stamp on frame verso.

Condition: Folds extant from original position in the folio atlas of Cook's Third Voyage. Two pinholes, one below the southern tip of Africa; one below the southwest tip of Australia, or New Holland. A small tear, one-eighth inch, in the Gobi desert. See the last three photos for details of the three holes. Frame has slight abrasion to exterior side lower right molding -- please see second photo. For the third and fourth photos, please excuse elements of glare. They are not defects in the chart.

An uncommon chart in attractive condition and well-framed.