EVANS, George William

A Geographical Historical and Topographical Description of Van Diemen's Land...

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John Souter, London, 1822. Octavo text with folding engraved view of Hobart Town after a sketch by Evans; original papered boards, preserved in a quarter morocco case, lettered in gilt; the accompanying folding handcoloured engraved map, as issued, in the original boards box with paper label. First edition of Evans' important work on Tasmania, only very rarely found complete with the separately-issued chart: a most attractive example of Australian cartography, it is the finest of the early post-settlement maps of Van Diemen's Land and the first survey map of the island.

Although Charles Jeffreys beat Evans into print with his plagiarism of Evans' work, a manuscript of which he is supposed to have stolen, Evans' was actually the first separate work on the colony to be written. Always highly regarded, his book gives an excellent account of the geography, history and prospects of Van Diemen's Land and includes detailed procedures for prospective emigrants. Appendices list landholders, prices for agricultural produce and other relevant information for settlers.

Evans was Macquarie's favourite explorer and was appointed Surveyor General of Van Diemen's Land as a reward for his fine services in exploring the territory west of the Blue Mountains and as second-in-command to Oxley. This text was prepared as a guidebook for Macquarie during his tour of Van Diemen's Land and is the best description of the state of the colony in the first decades of its existence. Evans' explorations and surveys were foremost in advancing the geographical knowledge of the colony - "his achievements would have momentous effects on the future prosperity of the colony", as Macquarie himself said.
Wantrup, 55 and 56.

• AUD 14,500.00 > Andere Währungen
• Bestellnummer: 601_016

• Antiquariat: Hordern House (AUSTRALIA)