First Map of the Complete Australian Continent [New Holland]

Artist or Author: Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet

Work: Voyage de decouvertes aux Terres Australes, execute... sur les corvettes le Geographe, le Naturaliste, et la goelette le Casuarina, pendant les années 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804... Partie Navigation et Géographie... Atlas

Date of Publication: 1812

Style: Engraving

Paper Size: ~ 22" by 33 1/2" (Fold Out)

Condition: The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work:

This fine engraving is from Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet's Voyage de decouvertes aux Terres Australes, execute... sur les corvettes le Geographe, le Naturaliste, et la goelette le Casuarina, pendant les années 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804... Partie Navigation et Géographie... Atlas. The work was published in Paris in 1812 au Depot General des Cartes et Plans de la Marine. The engraving was completed by Pillement and Dupare.

This engraving was completed after the expedition of Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet & Nicholas Baudin. It was one of the most important early explorations of Australia. The expedition was sent out by the French government in 1800 with orders to complete the survey of the Australian coast.

Commanded by Nicolas Baudin, the expedition left France in 1800 and sailed via Mauritius to the Australian coast in the region of Cape Leeuwin, arriving in May 1801. Peron sailed as naturalist on the expedition and Freycinet as cartographer. The vessels, Geographe and Naturaliste, sailed north from Cape Leeuwin, surveying the coast and making observations on the natural history and inhabitants, until they crossed to Timor.

After three months the two ships set out for Tasmania, continued making detailed surveys, and went on to Sydney. The group then undertook a complete survey of the southern coast and an examination of the northern coast before returning to Mauritius. It was a celebrated voyage which brought back to France the most important collection of natural history specimens in the history of the French Museum.