1807 JOUVENCY / BEAUTEMPS-BEAUPRE. - Plan du Port du Sud de la Baie de la Recherche / Croquis de la Baie des Moules. . .

A French maritime chart of the Port du Sud in Research Bay and the mouth of the Bay of Mussels, both in southern Tasmania.
This is the edition of the extremely rare atlas Neptune des côtes orientales et du grand archipel d'Asie, published in 1807. The atlas was a supplement to the atlas series published by Hydrographic office and prepared by C.F Beautemps-Beaupré, who is now regarded as the father of modern French hydrography.
Although the map is cartographically similar, the maps for this edition are printed on very thick and larger paper and in the upper right corner N°.336 has been engraved and instead of Bouclet's name the words "Prix Deux Francs".

The D'Entrecasteaux channel is a body of water located between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania in Australia. The channel is the mouth for the estuaries of the Derwent and the Huon Rivers and empties into the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. It was first sighted by Abel Tasman in 1642, and surveyed in 1792 by Bruni d'Entrecasteaux.
The chart is strong on physical detail, outlining trees, hills and rivers, but quite understandably, light on topographic detail, with only islands, capes and bays mentioned. With circular title cartouches, directional arrows, and some soundings.

The map is more commonly known from its appearance in "Atlas du Voyage de Bruny Dentrecasteaux." However, the maps for the Neptune edition are printed on very thick and larger paper, and in the upper right corner, N°.304 has been added.
Very rare.

Beautemps-Beaupre sailed on the frigate 'La Recherche' under the command of Antoine Bruny d'Entrecasteaux. The purpose of the expedition was to find La Perouse, by following his route to New Holland (Australia), & also to map the coasts and islands they found. Beautemps-Beaupre's output was prolific; in just over 2 years, he drew over 30 maps at a rate vastly greater than any other expedition of his time.

Beautemps-Beaupré is regarded as the father of modern hydrography.
Beautemps-Beaupré was born on August 6, 1766, in La Neuville-au-Pont (Marne). He was introduced to map drawing by his cousin Nicolas Buache, and he entered the service in 1780 as a hydrographer at the Depot of Maps and Plans of the French Navy. He was admitted as a pupil in his turn in 1783. There, he collaborated in the preparation of maps that La Pérouse carried on his journey.
He left in 1791 on the Search with Admiral d'Entrecasteaux and remained absent for five years. During this campaign, he developed entirely new ways of using charts at sea. Overcoming the compass variations, the remarkable points of the coast are shown in insets.
In 1779, Napoleon charged him with the hydrographic reconnaissance of the Dunkirk coast and various other works.
In 1816, Beautemps-Beaupré began the complete reconstruction of the hydrography of the coasts of France. Operations at sea will last 23 years. The French pilot, who completed his work in 1844, the result of his work, was admired by the entire maritime world.
He was a Knight of Saint-Louis, a Knight of Saint Michel, and a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. He died in 1854 at the age of 88. He left to his companions the memory of a simple man, modest, judicious, courageous and good. Leading the way in his work and training his engineers, Beautemps-Beaupré has earned the title of "father of hydrography," which has been awarded to him.

More about C.F. Beautemps-Beaupré and mapping of Australia." [+]

Reference: Tooley, The mapping of Australia and Antartica, 169, pag. 311.