Abel Janszoon Tasman’s Journal of His Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land and New Zealand in 1642

1898

Hocken Library: Bliss Double Oversize KX T

Amsterdam: Müller & Co.

In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman left Batavia (now Jakarta), found Van Dieman’s Land (Tasmania), and then sailed into New Zealand (‘Staten Landt’) waters. After sighting the coast near Punakaiki on the west of the South Island on 13 December 1642), Tasman sailed up the coast before rounding Farewell Spit, to anchor in what is now Golden Bay. There the first recorded meeting of Maori and European took place, resulting in conflict and loss of life on both sides. The contours above represent one of the earliest images of New Zealand: a coastal view of ‘Klippige Hoek’ (Rocky Point), later named Cape Foulwind by Cook in 1770. Dr Hocken purchased this facsimile direct from the publisher, Müller.