The question of what lay between the mainland and New Guinea was still open until late in the 18th century. This was a holdover from a century of maps that exaggerated the size of New Guinea and no reports of a strait or passage.
In reality, Luís Vaz de Torres, who sailed with Pedro Fernandes de Quiros in 1605, had passed through the straits between New Guinea and Australia. However, the Spanish had suppressed his report in the hopes of maintaining power via geographic secrecy and the Strait was only added to maps and named after Cook sailed through it from East to West in 1770.
Ready-to-hang framed print on high quality 200 gsm matte (uncoated) paper, shatterproof plexiglass - includes hanging kit.
Reproduced from the original chart, then hand coloured in the style of the period and digitally printed.
