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Description

Nice example of Zatta's map of New Zealand, one of the most decorative and highly sought after editions of Cook's mapping of New Zealand and one of the largest format presentations of Cook's map.

The map delineates two islands, tentatively identifying the Southern Island separate. The map shows Cook's tracks around the island, along with the astronomical observations. Nice topographical detail is shown, along with a blend of native and European placenames on the islands. The map includes several annotations. New Zealand, though discovered by Tasman in 1642, received no further European exploration until the first Pacific voyage of James Cook. Cook sailed the coast of New Zealand for 6 months, proving that it was not part of the Great Southern Continent, as many had believed. Cook visited New Zealand several times, with Zatta's map drawn from information provided in the latest of his voyages.

The decorative cartouche shows a native village scene. A nice example of this highly sought after map.

Antonio Zatta Biography

Antonio Zatta (fl. 1757-1797) was a prominent Italian editor, cartographer, and publisher. Little is known about his life beyond his many surviving published works. It is possible that he was born as early as 1722 and lived as late as 1804. He lived in Venice and his work flourished between 1757 and 1797. He is best known for his atlas, Atlante Novissimo (1779-1785), and for his prolific output of prints and books that were both precisely made and aesthetically pleasing. Zatta clearly had a large network from which to draw information; this is how he was able to publish the first glimpse of the islands visited by Captain Cook in the Atlante Novissimo. Zatta also published books of plays and architecture.