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1800 Flinders and Arrowsmith Map of Tasmania
Tasmania-flinders-1800$1,150.00
Title
Kaart van Basses Straat Tusschen Nieuw Zuid Wales en Van Diemens-Land.
1800 (undated) 28 x 19.5 in (71.12 x 49.53 cm)
1800 (undated) 28 x 19.5 in (71.12 x 49.53 cm)
Description
Created by Captain Matthew Flinders during his circumnavigation of Tasmania or Van Diemens Land, this c. 1800 map is one of the first to depict Tasmania as a separate island. Resulting from the first circumnavigation of the island, Tasmania is illustrated in some detail, but it is also evident that Flinders was not exceptionally confident about his reconnaissance of the entire coastline. He uses gaps and ghosting to mark uncertainties, particularly along the northwest coast. The eastern coast is much more tenuously sketched, probably due to the distance from shore Flinders maintained. Two large block texts, one situated in New South Wales and the other in the interior of Tasmania, furnish more information, with all text in Dutch.
Flinders' Circumnavigation of Tasmania
In February 1798, Matthew Flinders set out on an expedition to the Furneaux Islands, situated south of mainland Australia, to recover goods from a shipwrecked cargo vessel. During this voyage, Flinders became convinced that a strait existed between Australia and points south. Two months earlier, in December 1897, George Bass arrived at the same conclusion while on an expedition along the southern Australian coast, making it as far as modern-day Westernport, Victoria. Both men, hoping to confirm their theory, set sail on the Norfolk on October 7, 1798. Flinders and Bass first sailed south to the Furneaux Islands, where Flinders revised the charts from his first voyage. After twelve days, they sailed west, and on November 3 arrived near modern day Port Dalrymple, at an estuary of the Tamar River. A fine harbor with fresh water, good soil, and plentiful food, this was a major discovery where the expedition spent seventeen days. Flinders surveyed the harbor while Bass led expeditions inland. From there they continued west, and by December 9th had reached the westernmost point of Tasmania. They then navigated south, putting in at Frederick Henry Bay and the Derwent Estuary. On January 3, 1799, the duo turned north towards Port Jackson, successfully confirming the insular nature of Tasmania. Having accomplished their goal, the duo bypassed a significant portion of the eastern coast of Tasmania on the return voyage.Publication History and Census
Created by Matthew Flinders, the first edition of this chart was published by Aaron Arrowsmith on June 16, 1800. The current example come from a fourteen volume Dutch work on Cook's voyages published by Jan David Pasteur entitled Reizen Rondom de Waereld door James Cook. We are aware of three examples in institutional collections, all of which are in Australia. These examples are part of the collections of the National Library of Australia, the State Library of Tasmania, and the Flinders University Library.CartographerS
Matthew Flinders (March 16, 1774 - July 19, 1840) was a British navigator and cartographer, renowned for his pioneering work in charting the coastline of Australia. Born in Lincolnshire, England, Flinders studied at Cowley's Charity School, Donington, from 1780 and then at the Reverend John Shinglar's Grammar School at Horbling in Lincolnshire. He joined the Royal Navy at a 15, having developed a passion for naval exploration after reading Robinson Crusoe. He was part of several exploratory and military voyages, including a voyage under the notorious William Bligh, steadily rising in rank. In 1798, as a lieutenant, he embarked on an expedition exploring the Australian coast. Over the course of his voyages, Flinders meticulously charted much of the Australian coastline, including the circumnavigation of the continent, confirming it as a single landmass. He is often falsely credited as being the first person to utilize the name Australia to describe the entirety of that continent - however he did encourage this usage. Flinders' work significantly contributed to the understanding of Australia's geographical layout and was instrumental in the development of safe sea routes for future maritime exploration and trade. Despite facing numerous challenges, including shipwrecks and a lengthy imprisonment by the French on the island of Mauritius due to suspicions during the Napoleonic Wars, Flinders remained dedicated to his scientific pursuits. Flinders died, aged 40, on July 19, 1814, from kidney disease, at his home at 14 London Street (Maple Street), London. This was on the day after his book, A Voyage to Terra Australis, and its accompanying atlas were published. The location of his grave was subsequently lost until rediscovered by archeologists in 2019. Flinders is scheduled to be reburied in the summer of 2024. More by this mapmaker...
Aaron Arrowsmith (1750-1823), John Arrowsmith (1790-1873), and Samuel Arrowsmith. The Arrowsmith family were noted map engravers, publishers, geographers, and cartographers active in the late 18th and early 19th century. The Arrowsmith firm was founded by Aaron Arrowsmith, who was trained in surveying and engraving under John Cary and William Faden. Arrowsmith founded the Arrowsmith firm as a side business while employed by Cary. The firm specialized in large format individual issue maps containing the most up to date and sophisticated information available. Arrowsmith's work drew the attention of the Prince of Wales who, in 1810, named him Hydrographer to the Prince of Wales, and subsequently, in 1820, Hydrographer to the King. Aaron Arrowsmith was succeeded by two sons, Aaron and Samuel, who followed him in the map publication business. The Arrowsmith firm eventually fell to John Arrowsmith (1790-1873), nephew of the elder Aaron. John was a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society. The firm is best known for their phenomenal large format mappings of North America. Mount Arrowsmith, situated east of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is named for Aaron Arrowsmith and his nephew John Arrowsmith. Learn More...
Condition
Very good. Even overall toning. Light wear along original fold lines. Verso repairs to fold separations. Blank on verso.
References
National Library of Australia. 912.196576. OCLC 220799705.