1784 James Cook & J. Webber Engraving - Poulaho, the Friendly Islands Meeting

Description

A very rare original 18th century copper engraving, illustrating the voyages of Capitan James Cook
James Cook (1728-1779) was a … more A very rare original 18th century copper engraving, illustrating the voyages of Capitan James Cook
James Cook (1728-1779) was a British naval admiral, navigator and explorer who sailed the seaways and cost of Canada and conducted three expedition to the Pacific Ocean.
His first voyage was aboard HMS Endeavor from 1768 to 1771, visiting Tahiti, the cost of New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia.
The second voyage, 1772-1775, with Resolution and Adventure circumnavigated the globe further south and his ships were the first to cross the Antarctic Circle, visiting again New Zealand, Tahiti & Tonga among other pacific island, some newly discovered.
His third and voyage 1776-1780 with Resolution and Discovery added more remote islands to the list of visited for first time by Europeans, including the Hawaiian islands, where unfortunately James Cook lost his life. The expedition in command of Charles Clerke, and later John Gore, returned home through Kamchatka, Russia, Macao and Japan
"Cook has set new standards of thoroughness in discovery and seamanship, in navigation, cartography and the care of man at sea, in relations with indigenous people both friendly and hostile, and the application of science at sea. He had peacefully changed the map of the world more than any other single man in history." (reference: Brittanica)
The presented here copper engraving is illustrating the third voyage, it is titled " POULAHO, King of THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS DRINKING ....", and depicts a town meeting with the King, as seen by the expedition visiting Tonga in 1777 and recorded in Cook's journal. Note the intricately built and decorated structure in the interior of the dwelling and the elaborated floor covers.

The artist who made the sketch from nature is John WEBBER (British, 1751-1793). He accompanied Cook on his third voyage. The copper plate was engraved by William Sharp (1749-1824), a renown English engraver and painter
It is a first edition engraving from "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the Command of his Majesty, for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere to determine The Position and Extent of the West Side of North America; its Distance from Asia; and the Practicability of a Northern Passage to Europe . . . In Three Volumes. Vol I and II written by Captain James Cook, F.R.S. Vol. III by Captain James King, LL.D. and F.R.S., published in London, 1784

It comes with matting

Measurements: Approx. 20.5" x 15.75" the sheet; 16.5" x 10.5" the plate; 15.25" x 9.1 " the scene; 22 x 17" the matting
Condition: Very Good overall. Please see photos. Very minor foxing, considering its age. All original. less