DESCRIPTION: The Singapore Library web site sums up the significance of this scarce map of Asia: "Map of Indonesia showing tracks of Recherche and Esperance in 1792-1793. This map is part of the great archipelago of Asia, recognized by Rear Admiral Bruny-Dentrecasteaux, in 1792 and 1793" (1). This very scarce copper-plate engraved map is by Charles-François Beautemps-Beaupré (1766-1854). Charts by Beautemps-Beaupre are scarce. Only one other instance of this map is found in the AMPR.
On thick wove paper.
Chart of the waters and islands lying to the north of Australia including portions of the Ceram Sea, Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, and Molucca Sea, Key geographical features include a passage labeled "Dampier Strait", Waigeo ( Waigiou ), Batanta, Ceram, Ambon, Northern New Guinea, and Sulawesi ( Celebes ) and Timor. Much of the coastline of these islands is left blank because as of 1793 they were still uncharted and unexplored.
The map shows the track of two ships, the Recherche and Espérance , as they conducted an expedition (1791 - 1793) led by French Rear-Admiral Antoine Raymond Joseph de Bruni d'Entrecasteaux to find the missing ships of Jean-François de La Pérouse of whom nothing had been heard since March 1788.
C.F. Beautemps-Beaupre was one of the earliest hydrographers to use isobaths to represent water depth. Beautemp-Beaupres' many contributions to hydrography and his dedication to his profession is the reason he is sometimes referred to as the 'father of French hydrography'.
(1) Source online: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/printheritage/detail/61fb49ca-26e8-49cb-8e93-5f3558b123d2.aspx
PUBLICATION DATE: 1793
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: New Guinea
BODY OF WATER: Molucca Sea
CONDITION: Good.
Clean and bright on heavy wove paper. No major condition issues. Numerous soft verical folds and wrinkles have been flattened. The soft folds apparently were caused when the rolled chart was partially flattened, perhaps during use aboard ship.
COLORING: None
ENGRAVER: E. Collin
SIZE: 29
" x
19 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 59
PRICE: $2550
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