The Dixson map collection

From the atlas, Theatrum orbis terrarum [The Theatre of the Whole World], this map depicts New Guinea as a large land mass shown at the bottom right corner. In 1584 it was not known whether it was an island or part of a larger continent. Below Java is a mysterious reference; Beach, pars continentis Australis. Marco Polo had named a southern land mass beach suggesting a possible southern continent.

This fascinating and beautiful map combines the factual with the fantastic. A growing interest by the Dutch in the East Indies’ trading potential is reflected in the detail of the islands of Java, Sumatra, and the Moluccas or Spice Islands. While in the Pacific Ocean (called Orientalis), mermaids attend to their hair and sea monsters cause havoc off the coast of America.

Digital order no: a3305001

A beautiful hand-coloured engraved chart which depicts New Guinea and the west coast of Cape York, believed by the Dutch to be one land. This is one of the first printed maps to depict the Australian coastline. Drooge bocht (dry bight) at the centre is Torres Strait. The west coast of Cape York had been discovered and charted by Willem Jansz in the Duyfken in 1606, the earliest definite sighting of the Australian coastline.

Digital order no: a3317001

This impressive 1652 map was possibly engraved by Pieter Goos. Claes Janszoon Visscher was the Dutch founder of a family of map-makers, engravers and publishers. The ornate border panels include engraved figures of Roman emperors, views of Rome, Amsterdam, Jerusalem, Tunis, Mexico, Havana, Pernambuco in Brazil, and San Salvador. Included are the allegorical figures of the four continents, and north and south polar views.

In the decorative cartouche there is a description of discovery of the Americas in 1499 by Christopher Columbus and America is depicted by an Indigenous American astride an armadillo with gold leaf detail on his weapons and clothing. In the background graze buffalo.

Enticed by the lucrative spice trade Marco Polo's 'Beach' is still shown as part of Magallanica sive Terra Australis Incognita.

This beautiful map exemplifies the Dutch engraving and decorative skills which flourished during the 17th century. The engraving process was a lengthy and detailed process which required the etching of the entire work onto a plate as a mirror image of the map whcih was then printed onto paper.

Digital order no: a1528822

From Hendrik Hondius's plate (originally published in 1637), this map was regularly revised and reissued. This version is from Jansson's Grooten Atlas and is one of the earliest printed maps to show Abel Tasman's discoveries; that of the western coastline of New Holland, 'Nova Hollandia detect Anno 1644', the southern tip of Van Dieman's Land and an edge of New Zealand.

Digital order no: a127042

First included in Jansson's Novus Atlas 1657-58, this map shows the East Indies, the north coast of Australia, Carpentaria, and New Guinea. Tasman's second voyage of discovery in 1644 is indicated. A lavish cartouche depicts the exotic riches the Dutch found in the East Indies.

Digital order no: a1528820

From Goos' De Zee-Atlas ofte Water-Weereld, 1666, this world map shows all the discoveries of Tasman's voyages. This map remained unchanged for 10 years and through twenty editions until Goos' death in 1675.

Digital order no: a127044

A map of the North Pole with corner details showing scenes of whaling. Frederick de Wit was the founder of the Dutch publishing family which produced lavish maps and atlases, based in Amsterdam.

Digital order no: a1528843

The Dutch firm of Van Keulen was founded by Johannes Van Keulen in 1680 and continued through until 1885. The strength of the company was in the production of marine charts. This plate was probably from their Groote nieuwe vermeerderde zee-atlas ofte water-werelt and it depicts the Indian Ocean and coasts of eastern Africa, India, East Indies, and Australia, along with an elaborate cartouche of scenes from the exotic east.

Digital order no: a1528848

This is Carel Allard's second world map, published in his Atlas Minor of 1696 and his Atlas Major of c.1705. Allard has depicted twin central hemispheres which are surrounded by eight smaller projections which illustrate the world from various perspectives. The Australian mainland is named Hollandia Nova with a partial coastline shown in both hemispheres from Great Australian Bight to Carpentaria.(Cape York Peninsula), with an additional portion of coastline named "Quri Regio". Tasmania is named Antoni van Diemens Land showing part of its southern coastline. New Zealand is named Zelandia Nova and only a partial portion of coastline is depicted.

Digital order no: a1528850

Designed for the French market, this map depicts the Australian east coast, detailing Captain James Cook's 1770 discoveries, along with the route of Abel Tasman in 1642. The directions of regular and variable trade winds are also illustrated.

Digital order no: a127071

Captain Samuel Wallis in command of the Dolphin, along with the Swallow commanded by Philip Carteret were given the objective of sailing around Cape Horn and through the Strait of Magellan: the most southern points of South America. They were then to travel westward in search of land that was thought to lie between Cape Horn and New Zealand. The journey through the Straits was undertaken under very trying conditions. The strong westerly winds and stormy waters resulted in the two ships becoming separated. The Dolphin took a northerly route across the Pacific through the Society Islands, Wallis Island then north to the Gilbert and Marshall Islands whereas the Swallow travelled south of Easter Island to Pitcairn then north of the Fijian Islands and New Caledonia through to the Solomon Islands. The crews of both vessels ended their travels at Batavia.

Digital order no: a3761001

Digital order no: a3759001

Carteret sailed northward to catch the trade winds, in search of the uninhabited island of S. Ambrose and S. Felix, though he failed to locate them. Continuing west, he passed south of Easter Island. Sailing on a more southerly course, to the west of 110 degrees W, Carteret discovered Pitcairn Island; the destination of the Bounty mutineers, along with three low atolls on the southern fringes of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Reaching the Duke of Gloucester's Islands, he concluded that there was no continent lying anywhere near, thereby disproving earlier assumptions made by Quiros.

Digital order no: a3760001

Digital order no: a1528676

Digital order no: a1528634

Prior to his explorations in the Pacific, James Cook served in the Royal Navy in North America during the Anglo-French Seven Years’ War and saw his first campaigning off Louisbourg, Île Royale (Cape Breton Island). Cook surveyed the St Lawrence gulf and river in Quebec and charted the river in detail to enable a large armada of ships to enter. This chart of the St. Lawrence River shows settlements, ship channels, and anchorages. The soundings shown in fathoms. The original version of this map by James Cook was published in 1760.

Digital order no: a1528633