Archives West Finding Aid
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Engravings from the voyages of Captain James Cook, 1776? and 1784?
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Engravings from the voyages of Captain James Cook
- Dates
- 1776? and 1784? (inclusive)17761784
- Quantity
- 15 prints (1 box) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- Summary
- Prints pertaining to the publications arising from the second and third voyages of Captain James Cook
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on access.
- Languages
- English
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
On each of three expeditions that James Cook (1728-1779) undertook for the British Admiralty an official artist was employed to record the topography, people, crafts, and tools of the regions which were visited. On the first voyage, 1768-1771, Alexander Buchan accompanied Cook in circumnavigating the globe and exploring parts of Australia and islands in the Pacific. William Hodges accompanied Cook on the second voyage, 1772-1775, during which Cook circumnavigated the globe for the second time and conducted further explorations in and around Australia and the Pacific, coming within miles of the Antarctic coast. On the third and final voyage, 1776-1779, John Webber went with Cook to North America, Hawaii, and other places in the Pacific, with the intention of exploring the coasts along the north Pacific Ocean and determining the possibility of a northwest passage.
Upon return from their respective second and third voyages, the official artists -- William Hodges (1744-1797) and John Webber (1751-1793) -- were hired to superintend the engraving of copper plates and the printing from them for publication.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Prints pertaining to the publications arising from the second and third voyages of Captain James Cook.
A portion of the prints relate the second voyage publication, A voyage towards the South Pole and round the world: performed in His Majesty's ships the Resolution and Adventure, in the years 1772, 1773, l774 and l775, first published in London by W. Strahan and T. Cadell.
In the Pratt bequest, the second voyage prints from drawings by William Hodges appear to be proofs because they do not contain captions. Credits for the artist and the sculptor of the plate are present.
The bulk of the prints pertain to the third voyage. The original publications was, A voyage to the Pacific ocean. Undertaken, by the command of His Majesty, for making discoveries in the Northern hemisphere, to determine the position and extent of the west side of North America; its distance from Asia; and the practicability of a northern passage to Europe. Performed under the direction of Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore, in His Majesty's ships the Resolution and Discovery, in the years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780, also published in London, by W. and A. Strahan, for G. Nicol, & T. Cadell.
In both the Pratt bequest and the prints from unknown sources, the prints from drawings by John Webber include title captions, credits for the artist and sculptor, and plate numbers in the upper right.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The engravings are arranged in two series according to donor. The first series consists of prints from the bequest of Robert Y. Pratt. The second series is an accumulation of prints in Special Collections which were previously housed together in a folder labeled, "Loose plates from Cook's voyages." At the time of this finding aid's creation in 2008, the sources of these prints have not been identified. The sub-series are arranged by voyage.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Robert Y. Pratt BequestReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Prints from Cook's Second
Voyage
Credits on the engraving are directly transcribed. A note as to
the corresponding volume, plate number and title in the publication follows the
transcribed information.
|
||
| Folder | item | |
| 1 | 1 | [Untitled]. Drawn from Nature by W.
Hodges. Engraved by B.T. Pouncy. May 22, 1776.
Corresponds to Volume 1, plate XXX (30), “The Ice
Islands.”
|
| 1 | 2 | [Untitled]. W. Hodges. B.T. Pouncy, Sct.
1776.
Corresponds to Volume 1, plate XXXIII (33), "Resolution Bay in
the Marquesas."
|
| 1 | 3 | [Untitled]. W. Hodges ad vivum del J. Hall, Sculp.
1776.
Corresponds to Volume 1, plate XXXVI (36), "The Chief at Sta.
Christina."
|
| 1 | 4 | [Untitled]. Drawn from nature by W. Hodges. Engraved
by W. Byrne.
Corresponds to Volume 2, plate L (50), "View in the Island of
New Caledonia."
|
Prints from Cook's Third
Voyage
Credits on the engraving are directly transcribed. A note has
been added, following the transcribed information, as to corresponding plate
number in the atlas.
|
||
| Folder | item | |
| 2 | 1 | "A View of Anamooka." J. Webber, del. W. Byrne,
sc.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 13.
|
| 2 | 2 | "A View of the Habitations in Nootka Sound." J.
Webber, del. S. Smith, sculp.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 41.
|
| 2 | 3 | “The Inside of a House in Nootka Sound.” J. Webber,
del. W. Sharp, sculp.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 42.
|
| 2 | 4 | “A Sea Otter.” J. Webber, del. Mazell,
sculp.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 43.
|
| 2 | 5 | “A View at Bolcheretzkoi at Kamtschatka.” J. Webber,
del. P. Benezech, sc.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 72.
|
| 2 | 6 | “A White Bear.” J. Webber, del. Mazell,
sculp.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 73.
|
| 2 | 7 | “A View of the Town and Harbour of St. Peter and St.
Paul, in Kamtschatka.” J. Webber, del. B.T. Pouncy, sc.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 74.
|
| 2 | 8 | “Summer and Winter Habitations in Kamtschatka.” J.
Webber, del. S. Smith, sc.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 77.
|
From unknown sourcesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Prints from Cook's Third
Voyage
Credits on the engraving are directly transcribed. A note as to
the corresponding volume and plate number follows the transcribed
information.
|
||
| Folder | item | |
| 3 | 1 | “A Woman of Nootka Sound.” J. Webber, del. W. Sharp,
sculp.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 39.
|
| 3 | 2 | “Various Articles of Nootka Sound.” J. Webber, del. J.
Record, sculpt.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 40.
|
| 3 | 3 | “Sea Horses.” Drawn by J. Webber. Engraved by E.
Scott. The Figures by J. Heath.
Corresponds to Atlas, plate 52.
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Engravings--1770-1780
- Engravings--1780-1790
- Voyages around the world--18th century
Personal Names
- Cook, James, 1728-1779
- Hodges, William, 1744-1797 (artist)
Form or Genre Terms
- Copper engravings
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Webber, John, 1751-1793 (artist)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
