Bowen, Emanuel "A New and Accurate Map of the World"

Emanuel Bowen. "A New and Accurate Map of the World". From John Harris' Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca. or, A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels.

London, 1744. 11 1/4 x 21 1/4. Engraving. Narrow margin at left, as issued. Very good condition.

This chart of the world on an oval projection appeared in John Harris' Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels, which included many accounts of explorations that could be followed by the reader on this detailed map. Bowen was careful to shown only explored parts of the world, so the northwest part of America is blank except for the label "Parts Undiscovered." The western coast of Australia, the southern outline of Tasmania, and the western coast of New Zealand, all discovered at the time, are shown, with a shade line on the eastern part of Australia showing a projected coastline there. Bowen's map is based on the records of the circumnavigations of Magellan, Drake and Anson, whose tracks are shown. A wonderful document of the state of knowledge about the world prior to Cook's voyages.