Antique Sea Charts

Voyages of discovery

Charts and views from the great voyage accounts: Captain Cook, Anson, Hawkesworth, Bougainville, Dampier and Dumont d'Urville, with the first surveys of the Pacific islands, New Zealand, Australia and the far north.

100 pieces

Large Chart of the Gambier Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, 1838

Large Chart of the Gambier Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, 1838

1838£1,835
Old Map of Cook's Discovery and Charting of the East Coast of Australia, 1803

Old Map of Cook's Discovery and Charting of the East Coast of Australia, 1803

1803£1,485
Antique Chart of the Mid-Pacific Ocean by Anson, c.1784

Antique Chart of the Mid-Pacific Ocean by Anson, c.1784

1784£1,270
Attractive Antique Map of the World as Planisphere, Shows Cook's Voyages, 1799

Attractive Antique Map of the World as Planisphere, Shows Cook's Voyages, 1799

1799£1,270
Singapore Environs View, French Exploration Lithograph, La Bonite Voyage, 1845

Singapore Environs View, French Exploration Lithograph, La Bonite Voyage, 1845

1845£1,100
Antique Chart of the Southern Pole, Showing Three Routes of Captain Cook, 1803

Antique Chart of the Southern Pole, Showing Three Routes of Captain Cook, 1803

1803£815
Old Map Showing the Tracks of Cook Between North America and Asia's Coast, 1803

Old Map Showing the Tracks of Cook Between North America and Asia's Coast, 1803

1803£805
Original Copper Engraving of the Northeast Coast of Australia, 1803

Original Copper Engraving of the Northeast Coast of Australia, 1803

1803£755
Antique Coastal Views and a Map of Van Diemens Land (Tasmania), Australia, 1803

Antique Coastal Views and a Map of Van Diemens Land (Tasmania), Australia, 1803

1803£730
Old Chart of the North-Eastern Coast of Australia Discovered by Cook, 1774

Old Chart of the North-Eastern Coast of Australia Discovered by Cook, 1774

1774£645
Human Sacrifice in a Morai, Tahiti, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1795

Human Sacrifice in a Morai, Tahiti, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1795

1795£625
View of the Island of Tahiti, with Outrigger Canoes and Sailing Catamarans, 1803

View of the Island of Tahiti, with Outrigger Canoes and Sailing Catamarans, 1803

1803£560
Antique Map of Tracks of Anson's Ships around South America & Cape Horn, 1749

Antique Map of Tracks of Anson's Ships around South America & Cape Horn, 1749

1749£550
Antique Map of the Coast of New Ireland, Earlier Part of German New Guinea, 1833

Antique Map of the Coast of New Ireland, Earlier Part of German New Guinea, 1833

1833£475
Detailed Map of New Zealand Showing the Route of Capt. Cook's First Voyage, 1803

Detailed Map of New Zealand Showing the Route of Capt. Cook's First Voyage, 1803

1803£430
Antique Print of the Port of Ambon by D'Urville, circa 1850

Antique Print of the Port of Ambon by D'Urville, circa 1850

1850£425
Dutch Antique Engraving with Coastal Views of Asia by Cook, 1803

Dutch Antique Engraving with Coastal Views of Asia by Cook, 1803

1803£405
Antique Map of New Ireland (Pacific) with Coastal Profiles, Cook Voyages, 1774

Antique Map of New Ireland (Pacific) with Coastal Profiles, Cook Voyages, 1774

1774£405
Original Antique Chart of the Santa Cruz Islands, 1774

Original Antique Chart of the Santa Cruz Islands, 1774

1774£390
Old Drawing or Plan of a Proa of Amsterdam Island, Now Tongatapu, Tonga, 1803

Old Drawing or Plan of a Proa of Amsterdam Island, Now Tongatapu, Tonga, 1803

1803£375
Antique Map of Kerguelens Island Coast in the Indian Ocean by Cook, 1785

Antique Map of Kerguelens Island Coast in the Indian Ocean by Cook, 1785

1785£375
Interior of Winter House, Kamchatka, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1803

Interior of Winter House, Kamchatka, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1803

1803£355
Antique Engraving Cocos Island, Maritime Scene, Manesson Mallet, 1683

Antique Engraving Cocos Island, Maritime Scene, Manesson Mallet, 1683

1683£335
Antique Print with Coastal Views of Islands Near The American Coast by Cook

Antique Print with Coastal Views of Islands Near The American Coast by Cook

Date not stated£320
Moskito Men Reunion, Juan Fernandez Island, Dampier Voyage Engraving, ca.1789

Moskito Men Reunion, Juan Fernandez Island, Dampier Voyage Engraving, ca.1789

1789£320
Interior of a Nootka House, Vancouver Island, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1795

Interior of a Nootka House, Vancouver Island, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1795

1795£320
Capsizing Warships, Hand-Colored Etching of Schouten’s East Indian Voyage, 1676

Capsizing Warships, Hand-Colored Etching of Schouten’s East Indian Voyage, 1676

1676£315
Chile Coast Bay Map, Antique 1749 Chart by Anson from Voyage Around the World

Chile Coast Bay Map, Antique 1749 Chart by Anson from Voyage Around the World

1749£305
Original Lithograph with a Scene of a Village and Harbour in New Guinea, c.1836

Original Lithograph with a Scene of a Village and Harbour in New Guinea, c.1836

1836£305
Antique Map of the Harbour of Tongatabu, One of the Tonga Islands, 1803

Antique Map of the Harbour of Tongatabu, One of the Tonga Islands, 1803

1803£305
Summer & Winter Houses, Kamchatka, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1803

Summer & Winter Houses, Kamchatka, Cook Voyage Engraving c.1803

1803£305
Antique Print with Coastal Views of Asia by Cook, c.1784

Antique Print with Coastal Views of Asia by Cook, c.1784

1784£305
Antique Map of Kerguelens Island Coast by Cook, 1784

Antique Map of Kerguelens Island Coast by Cook, 1784

1784£305
Repairing the Endeavour: Captain Cook's Maritime Ordeal at Hope Islands, ca.1770

Repairing the Endeavour: Captain Cook's Maritime Ordeal at Hope Islands, ca.1770

1770£305
Vintage North Polar Chart, Greenland & Arctic Exploration Routes, 1903

Vintage North Polar Chart, Greenland & Arctic Exploration Routes, 1903

1903£305
Hawaiian Volcanoes & Valleys, Antique Voyage Engravings, Renzi, Paris 1836

Hawaiian Volcanoes & Valleys, Antique Voyage Engravings, Renzi, Paris 1836

1836£305
Juan Fernandez Island Map, Antique Chilean Chart circa 1750

Juan Fernandez Island Map, Antique Chilean Chart circa 1750

1750£295
Antique Chart of the Friendly Islands or Nowadays Tonga, by Cook, 1784

Antique Chart of the Friendly Islands or Nowadays Tonga, by Cook, 1784

1784£290
Antique Map of the Harbour of Tongatabu by Cook, C.1783

Antique Map of the Harbour of Tongatabu by Cook, C.1783

1783£290
Antique Map of the Northwest Coast of Masafuera Island or Selkirk Island

Antique Map of the Northwest Coast of Masafuera Island or Selkirk Island

Date not stated£290
Serene Daily Life in New Caledonia: A Captured Moment from Cook's Voyages, 1784

Serene Daily Life in New Caledonia: A Captured Moment from Cook's Voyages, 1784

1784£290
Engravings of Hawkesworth & Captain James King: Chroniclers of Capt. Cook, 1784

Engravings of Hawkesworth & Captain James King: Chroniclers of Capt. Cook, 1784

1784£280
Old Print from Capt. Cooks Travels with Boats and a Ship in the South Sea, 1803

Old Print from Capt. Cooks Travels with Boats and a Ship in the South Sea, 1803

1803£270
Antique Print with Coastal Views of Kamchatka in The Russian Far East, c.1784

Antique Print with Coastal Views of Kamchatka in The Russian Far East, c.1784

1784£270
Antique Chart of CAP Providence and Other Charts by Hawkesworth, 1774

Antique Chart of CAP Providence and Other Charts by Hawkesworth, 1774

1774£270
Antique Print of the Sea Voyage to Nova Zembla, Russia, circa 1730

Antique Print of the Sea Voyage to Nova Zembla, Russia, circa 1730

1730£260
Antique Map of the Coast of Kerguelens Island by Cook, 1803

Antique Map of the Coast of Kerguelens Island by Cook, 1803

1803£260
Antique Print of the Fleet of Proas of Tahiti by Cook, 1803

Antique Print of the Fleet of Proas of Tahiti by Cook, 1803

1803£245

About voyages of discovery

The great voyages of the 1700s were published as soon as the ships came home, in large illustrated volumes that sold across Europe. Their plates are the first printed record of much of the Pacific: the charts drawn on board and the views made by the expedition artists.

Captain Cook's three voyages (1768 to 1780) produced the most famous of them, from the first charts of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia to Hawaii, Kamchatka and the north west coast of America. Anson's voyage round the world (1740 to 1744), Hawkesworth's account of the British voyages of the 1760s, and the French voyages of Bougainville, La Perouse and Dumont d'Urville complete the story.

Many voyage plates appeared in several editions and languages; each listing gives the date of the sheet itself.

Explore by place, voyage and subject

Questions about voyages of discovery

Are Captain Cook prints originals?

Yes. Every Cook plate here was printed in its day for one of the official accounts of the voyages or one of their contemporary editions, not reproduced later. The listing gives the edition date.

Which voyage accounts do these prints come from?

Mostly the accounts of Cook's three voyages, Anson's voyage round the world, Hawkesworth's account of the voyages of Byron, Wallis and Carteret, and the French voyages of Bougainville and Dumont d'Urville.

What did the voyage charts show for the first time?

Among others the coasts of New Zealand and eastern Australia, the Society and Friendly Islands, Hawaii, and the north west coast of America from Nootka Sound to Alaska.