Mappe Monde ou Carte Generale de L’ Univers D’Apres Une Projection Nouvelle D’Une Sphere Ovale

Half of Lotter’s map of the world showcasing the miraculous first voyage of James Cook.

This is the western half of a two sheet map published by Mathias Lotter in Augsburg around 1778. It was designed to celebrate the momentous first voyage of Captain James Cook, which took place between 1768 and 1771. Aboard the HMS Endeavour, Cook and his men circumnavigated the world, observed the transit of Venus on Tahiti, and were the first Europeans to land on the shores of Australia.

Though this map only captures half of the incredible expedition (hashed line, highlighted in orange), it includes North America, South America, and large portions of Europe and Africa. The Hawaiian Islands are notably absent (discovered by Cook on his third, and final voyage), and numerous spurious islands can be seen throughout the Pacific and south Atlantic Oceans.

Other visible cartographic myths include the River of the West, tentatively bisecting much of western America, a stunted northern coastline (according to the Japanese), and a large James Island in Baffin’s Bay. A wonderful example of cartography from the late 18th century featuring attractive, probably original, hand color.