A rare early print of New Zealand natives, published in the year 1835. A unique collector's print for those interested in early New Zealand prints. La Place was in New Zealand, Bay of Islands, October 1831
A young woman, partly draped, on the left, with a group doing a haka on a beach, the masts of a European vessel in the background (probably the Favourite). On the right, a separate vignette, showing a seated warrior in a cloak, holding a spear, a flax plant on the left.
This historic engraving is from Cyrille Pierre Theodore Laplace's Voyage around the world by the seas of India and China of the corvette of Her Majesty La Favorite executed during the 1830s, 1831 and 1832 under the command of Mr. Laplace, Commander. The work was published under the direction of M. de Sainson in Paris by Arthus Bertrand in 1835.
The work included beautiful views of Reunion Island and Mauritius, Singapore, Manila, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro. The work has been described as "perhaps the finest series of plates to any of the picturesque voyages" (Sabin 38985) and "...sumptuous.... They are some of the most beautiful plates of the kind in existence..." (Borba de Moraes p. 458)
Captain Laplace began his around the world voyage from Toulon on December 30, 1829 aboard the corvette La Favorite. He was commissioned to circumnavigate the globe by the French government. He passed through Gibralter, Goree, Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Saint-Louis de la Reunion, Indies, Singapore, Manila, Canton, Indonesia, Sydney, New Zealand, Vaplparaiso Cape Horn, and Rio de Janeiro before returning to Toulon on April 21, 1832.
"In December 1829, Laplace was commissioned to take an expedition to India, the East Indies and South East Asia, and then, if he chose to do so, proceed through the South Pacific. His instructions were to provide protection for French merchant vessels and obtain at each port-of-call information which might be of value to French trade." (Hill)
"From the scientific viewpoint, Laplace’s voyage was one of the most successful. The maps made from surveys in the Pacific and the collections which were assembled became famous during that period." (Borba de Moraes)
