The very first detailed and complete map of the Australian continent will be among the lots at Edinburgh auctioneer Lyon & Turnbull's Books, Maps & Manuscripts sale on January 13.
 The seven volumes of Louise Freycinet's 'Voyages' from 1811 |
Louise Freycinet's 'Voyages de découvertes aux terres australes', published in Paris in 1811, is a complete account of Nicolas Baudin's expedition to Australia.
Baudin was ordered to survey coasts of Australia by the French government in 1800, with Freycinet as his cartographer.
The works for sale include 14 engraved charts of their findings, across seven volumes of varying size, estimated at $15,000-25,000.
Baudin's expedition reached Van Dieman's Land in 1802 which they surveyed before sailing for Sydney, where they spent six months.
The expedition then surveyed the entire southern coast of Australia before returning to Mauritius, where Baudin died in late 1803.
 Australia's earliest maps are estimated at $15k-25k |
Despite some slight rubbing and scrapes, and one split, on the books' spines, the sheer historical significance of Freycinet's work should see reach its estimate on the auction block.
Interested collectors are currently offered to place online bids. For more information, see Lyon & Turnbull's website.
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