Frontispieces · 18th century
€ 540
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition. The edges show small creases, tears and wrinkles, due to age and handling, but hardly touching the image. Study the images carefully.
An antique engraving of the frontispiece to "Bankes's New System of Geography." The detailed artwork typically found in frontispieces of this era was designed to capture the essence of the work within a single illustration.
The engraving features classical allegorical figures, such as Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, and various personifications of the continents or parts of the world, bringing laurels to a central figure representing Captain Cook. The scene suggests the allegorical raising of Captain Cook to immortality, with Fame introducing him to History. Surrounding this central tableau are various other figures and elements that likely symbolize the scope of Cook's voyages and the extent of the British Empire at the time.
This frontispiece is rich in symbolism. Neptune could signify the naval achievements of Cook, and the laurels might represent the honor and fame he earned through his voyages. The personifications could be the various peoples and cultures Cook encountered, and the tools of navigation and cartography are prominently displayed, indicating the scientific nature of his work.
