A map of the Southern and Pacific Oceans produced by Captain James Cook (1728-1779) and Joseph Banks is to lead an auction at Sotheby's in London.
The lot, valued at £80,000-120,000 ($130,280-195,420), will headline the Exploration & Discovery 1576-1939: The Library of Franklin Brooke-Hitching Part I, A-C auction on March 27.
 Cook's map was produced in 1772 |
One of only three known copies, two of which are held in institutions, the map is the earliest to depict the entire recently discovered continent of Australia and New Zealand.
Scientist Sir Joseph Banks, who accompanied Cook on the first voyage, commissioned it in preparation for the second, in 1772.
Ultimately, Banks was denied permission to sail following a quarrel with the admiralty and the majority of the 100 or so examples of the map were discarded - making them exceptionally rare today.
A catalogue featuring samples of the different varieties of tapa cloth collected on the Cook voyages is valued at £70,000-100,000 ($113,995-162,850).
 The book was published in a run of around 45 in 1787 |
Alexander Shaw, whose relationship to the voyage remains unknown, produced around 45 of the exceptionally rare books in 1787.
Tapa cloth is produced from bark and is produced on islands across the Pacific. The samples feature strong variations in colour and pattern.
A comparable example of the book sold for £115,250 ($180,827) at Christie's London in 2010.
We have this lock of hair from Admiral Nelson, another famed British Naval officer.
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