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May not depict actual map.
1753 - Carte Reduite Des Terres Australes
| Map maker | Size | Map ID | Condition |
| Jacques Bellin | 280 x 200 mm | D1 / M68 / I38 | Barely noticable water staining over the top half of the map. Very minor offsetting. Single fold line as issued. Fine example with wide margins. |
 | Ask about this item | | SOLD |
One of the few 18 th century maps concentrating on the Australian continent and showing the east coast joined from New Guinea to Tasmania .
This chart of Australia exemplifies French theoretical cartography during the mid-18 th century of which Bellin was a leading exponent. This school of cartography attempted to complete Australia 's uncharted coastline by joining in the remaining gaps. As a result, Australia 's east coast forms a hypothetical continuous line from New Guinea to Tasmania , swelling out to include the New Hebrides ('Terre du St Esprit'). To his credit, Bellin does note in reference to the east coast that he supposes Tasmania will be joined to the New Hebrides . He also states in reference to the south coast, that his charting of the eastern section from Nuyts land to Tasmania is conjectural.
Bellin also notes in reference to Tasman's discoveries in New Zealand , that the coast discovered by Tasman may well be part of a large southland at the antipodes of Europe . Cook's charting of New Zealand 's two islands some seventeen years later than Bellin's map, laid to rest any further conjecture regarding the existence of 'Terra Australis Incognita'.
This information is adopted from the Printed World catalogue series, one of the most enjoyable and informative Australian Antique map catalogues available, created and compiled by Simon Dewez .
View map online on http://www.antiquemapart.com/map/68