In this Real Gold episode we talk with rare book specialist Georgia Prince about a selection of items from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections related to the expeditions of Captain James Cook on the sailing boat Endeavour.
Georgia discusses the illustrated map of Mercury Bay and mentions the process related to cartography of this time. The map is from the Hawkesworth account described below.
The official British account of the Endeavour voyage was written up from officers' journals by a professional writer and editor called John Hawkesworth. The first volume contained accounts of the British exploratory voyages which had proceeded Cook's into the South Pacific. Cook's voyage is contained in volumes two and three. The illustration were engraved from sketches by the expedition's artists. The engraving on display depicts an encounter between the British and Māori while the Endeavour was anchored in Mercury Bay. Cook and his party visited Ngāti Hei Wharetāwere Pā on 12 November 1769.
https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1971900
Also discussed is the hand written letter by James Cook.
Letter, 30 November 1768, Rio de Janeiro, to the Commissioners of the Victualling, His Majesty's Navy. Reference: GMS 184
Online digital copy: https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manuscripts/id/10662/rec/1
