Views of Australia & Oceania · 19th century
€ 360
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good. This is not a reproduction but an original engraving of over 200 years old. Aged paper with typically warm, yellowish-brown hue. Study the image carefully.
The title for the provided engraving could be "Ceremonial Rites: A Human Sacrifice in Otaheite," capturing the gravity of the depicted event. This print likely illustrates a solemn and significant cultural ceremony of the people of Tahiti, observed by Captain Cook and his officers during their voyages. It reflects the complex and often misunderstood interactions between European explorers and the indigenous cultures they encountered.
This is a circa 1801 copperplate engraving from George Alexander Cooke's "Universal Geography" .
The print is part of George Alexander Cooke's comprehensive work "A Modern and Authentic System of Universal Geography." This book was a significant compilation of geographical knowledge during the late 18th century, offering descriptions and accounts of various parts of the world, influenced by the age of exploration. It includes narratives of famed explorers like Captain James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan, detailing their discoveries and journeys that expanded the European understanding of the globe. Cooke's work served as both a chronicle and reference for the territories and cultures encountered by these voyagers.
