.jpg?w=1)
Details
T.J. MASLEN
Lithograph and manuscript map of Australia by T.J. Maslen 'drawn for the Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science, vol 3' in proof state on paper entitled Sketch of the Coasts of Australia and of the supposed entrance of the Great River [printed] Originally Designed to illustrate the Narrative of M. Baudins voyage on the West and NW coasts [MS], 43 x 56cm. The map covering the whole of Australia, save Tasmania, as known c. 1830, and includes the 'Great River' with a speculative 'Delta of Australia' and an inland 'supposed sea', with many annotations and additions in ink including place names and topographical features, with a manuscript explanation in two columns columns beneath the map and manuscript binding instructions to right hand edge. (Browning to edges, short tears not affecting map, small loss to lower edge affecting two words only.)
An unique early map of Australia clearly summarizing the exploration of the country in the early 1830s. The caption relates to the author's sources and his problems in producing the most accurate map possible. Specifically Malsen mentions his indebtedness for information about place names to a map by Baudin: 'it is impossible to insert the names of all the small islands along the NW coast discovered by M. Baudin and inserted in the French charts in my possession, but I have signified their situation by mentioning in the "Narrative" the English names of the places they lie in front of or are near to. The French names are all copied from Baudin's atlas printed at Paris in 1812, which I precoured at great expense.' Nicolas Baudin (1750-1803), ships captain and botanist, commanded the French ships La Naturaliste and La Géographe on an expedition which set in 1800 to survey Australian waters with the cartographer brothers Louis Claude and Henri-Louis Freycinet on board. Malsen also states that 'the outline of this map I reduced from one of the Admiralty Charts published in 1822, by Captain Hurd R.N.' Other placenames and gleanings of information came from other sources, including 'Captain King's NW coast', about which he explains that 'there are a vast number of names on the North, & NW coasts, necessarily left out.' Malsen also decided on the advice of 'our celebrated Australian Navigator Capt Flinders ... [that because] Dutch charts are exceedingly erroneous' not to include many of the rivers with Dutch names in the area of 'Carpenters Gulf'.
The original lithograph map over which the many emmendations and additions have been made a proof state prepared as an initial stage for correction. This view is supported by the text below the map and the inscription above which relates to the Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science, a periodical which ran to three volumes only and appeared over the course of 1830 and 1831. As would be expected Melbourne and Adelaide, founded in 1835 and 1836, are not shown, although Port Phillip is indicated. The Gulf of Carpentaria is here identified as Carpenters Gulf and the map compares favourably with its wealth of coastal names with other maps of the time, in particular those by D'Urville and Lottin (Carte de la partie de l'Océan Pacifique, 1833), and Lindner (Karte von Neu Holland, 1830), and is a considerable step forward in 'The state of Australia' from maps of just ten or twenty years previous. Together with hand-coloured engraved map of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land by J. Hewitt after J. Aspin. (2)
Lithograph and manuscript map of Australia by T.J. Maslen 'drawn for the Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science, vol 3' in proof state on paper entitled Sketch of the Coasts of Australia and of the supposed entrance of the Great River [printed] Originally Designed to illustrate the Narrative of M. Baudins voyage on the West and NW coasts [MS], 43 x 56cm. The map covering the whole of Australia, save Tasmania, as known c. 1830, and includes the 'Great River' with a speculative 'Delta of Australia' and an inland 'supposed sea', with many annotations and additions in ink including place names and topographical features, with a manuscript explanation in two columns columns beneath the map and manuscript binding instructions to right hand edge. (Browning to edges, short tears not affecting map, small loss to lower edge affecting two words only.)
An unique early map of Australia clearly summarizing the exploration of the country in the early 1830s. The caption relates to the author's sources and his problems in producing the most accurate map possible. Specifically Malsen mentions his indebtedness for information about place names to a map by Baudin: 'it is impossible to insert the names of all the small islands along the NW coast discovered by M. Baudin and inserted in the French charts in my possession, but I have signified their situation by mentioning in the "Narrative" the English names of the places they lie in front of or are near to. The French names are all copied from Baudin's atlas printed at Paris in 1812, which I precoured at great expense.' Nicolas Baudin (1750-1803), ships captain and botanist, commanded the French ships La Naturaliste and La Géographe on an expedition which set in 1800 to survey Australian waters with the cartographer brothers Louis Claude and Henri-Louis Freycinet on board. Malsen also states that 'the outline of this map I reduced from one of the Admiralty Charts published in 1822, by Captain Hurd R.N.' Other placenames and gleanings of information came from other sources, including 'Captain King's NW coast', about which he explains that 'there are a vast number of names on the North, & NW coasts, necessarily left out.' Malsen also decided on the advice of 'our celebrated Australian Navigator Capt Flinders ... [that because] Dutch charts are exceedingly erroneous' not to include many of the rivers with Dutch names in the area of 'Carpenters Gulf'.
The original lithograph map over which the many emmendations and additions have been made a proof state prepared as an initial stage for correction. This view is supported by the text below the map and the inscription above which relates to the Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science, a periodical which ran to three volumes only and appeared over the course of 1830 and 1831. As would be expected Melbourne and Adelaide, founded in 1835 and 1836, are not shown, although Port Phillip is indicated. The Gulf of Carpentaria is here identified as Carpenters Gulf and the map compares favourably with its wealth of coastal names with other maps of the time, in particular those by D'Urville and Lottin (Carte de la partie de l'Océan Pacifique, 1833), and Lindner (Karte von Neu Holland, 1830), and is a considerable step forward in 'The state of Australia' from maps of just ten or twenty years previous. Together with hand-coloured engraved map of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land by J. Hewitt after J. Aspin. (2)
Sale room notice
Please note this does not include the hand-coloured engraved map of New South Wales.