ORIGINAL TASMAN MAP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22064, 21 September 1933, Page 7

ORIGINAL TASMAN MAP

VOYAGE OF 1642 GIFT TO MITCHELL LIBRARY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 9. The Mitchell Library’s wonderful store of Australians has been enriched by the acquisition of one of the most interesting relics that have come into its possession. It has just received from London the original Tasman map showing Tasman’s voyage of 1642, when he discovered Tasmania, New Zealand, the Fijis, and the Tonga Islands. The map was presented to the trustees of the library by Princess George of Greece. The trustees of the Mitchell Library consider it to be one of the most important maps in their extensive collection. It is especially interesting because of the fact that Tasman was the first to circumnavigate Australia and because the Mitchell Library a few years ago acquired in Holland the original Tasman Journal of the 1042 expedition. A translation of the Dutch title of the map is: “ All these lands were discovered by the Dutch East India Company’s discoverers, with the exception of the northern part of Nova Guinea and the west end of Java. This work has been compiled from various writings, together with his own . observations, by Abel Jansz Tasman. Anno, 1644, by order of the Honourable the Lord Governor-General, Anthonio van Dieman.” . The history of the acquisition of the map, as is often the case with rare and valuable historic documents, is interesting. The public librarian (Mr W. H. Ifould) was first informed of the map being in tho possession of the Bonaparte family (of which Princess George of Greece is a member) by Mrs Daisy Bates, one of the most isolated white women in Australia, as she lives, as a protectress of aborigines, at Ooldca, Western Australia, Mrs Bates directed Mr Ifouid’s attention to a paragraph :n a book, “Round the World,” by Dr Thomson, secretary of the Queensland Geographical Society, the booi< having been published in 1904. Dr Thomson, the guest of Prince Rolhud Bonaparte, was interested in the Prince’s special hobby, the collection of geographical books. Dr Thomson referred in his book to the prince’s possession of the original Tasman manuscript map of his 1642 voyage. Ho said that the prince stated his intention of bequeathing the Tasman map to Australia at bis death. On this information Mr Ifould wrote to tho then Agent-general for New South Wales (Lord Chelmsford), suggesting that he should communicate with Princess

George of Greece, who had inherited the collection of her father. Prince Roland Bonaparte. Lord Chelmsford wrote to the British Ambassador in Paris, who interviewed the princess, who agreed that the map should go to Australia. She, however, mentioned that her husband, Prince George, intended to visit Australia and present the map to the people on that visit. As nothing eventuated for some time, Mr Ifould,. during a visit to Europe in 1929, took steps to remind * the princess of her promise. The princess ' repeated her promise, but still hoped that her husband would be able to present the map in person. Princess George was reminded again ’ two years later, and was persuaded to ‘ agree that the map should be trans--3 ferred to London and thence to Austra- ’ lia. The discovery has also been reported to Mr Ifould of a Duiffien chart, which 7 proves that the Duiffien was the first ’ vessel to sight any part of Australia. The discoverer was Dr Weider, prob- : ably the most distinguished authority ’ in the world on early maps and editor ? of “Monumenta Cartographica.” An ’ Australian professor, writing to Mr 1 Ifould from London regarding the chart, F said: “Dr Wieder has recently found a chart drawn by llossengin on board the Duiffien of her discovery of the ' western coast of York Peninsula in 1006. I He has just given me'a copy, with per- ; mission to use it as I wish. It is my J intention to send it out on loan for ex- | hibition in the Mitchell Library. It is ’ the first authentic record of the discovery [ of any part of Australia by a white man. Some months before Torres went through the straits, and every place he visited is clearly marked on the chart,” j Mr Ifould described the chart as an important discovery. He said: “Owing to the absence of any direct record of the i \ Duiffien’s voyage, geographers have frequently questioned whether she ever did , more than sail along the south coast of ' New Guinea —that is, whether those on i board really had the first sight of any : part of Australia. This chart answers i that question, which has been a matter of i controversy among geographers for more , than a century. The Mitchell Library i . will obtain from Dr Weider a facsimile ] reproduction of the chart in colour.” i The Tasman map gives a fairly good > outline of the Australian coasts, espeei- 1 ally • the southern, western, and north- i western, but Tasmania is shown joined J to the mainland. The east coast is made too regular, and there is evidence that 1 Tasman regarded the Great Barrier Reef « as the main coastline, while it is shown > that he believed New Guinea also to be i joined to the mainland. New Zealand < is peculiarly charted. Only the west < coast of the two islands is shown, and ' that is joined, with evidence that Tasman believed the strait between them was a huge bay. 1