1807 JOUVENCY / BEAUTEMPS-BEAUPRE. - Plan du Port du Nord de la Baie de la Recherche.

A French maritime chart of the plan of the northern portion of Recherche Bay on the S.E. tip of Tasmania. The chart has some physical detail, outlining trees and hills, but it is quite understandably light on topographic detail. With a circular title cartouche, directional arrows, and some soundings.

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 the Hydrographic Office and prepared by C.F. Beautemps-Beaupré, who is now regarded as the father of modern French hydrography.
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. The usual text in the upper right corner is not there, but instead is "N°. 303" engraved, and instead of Bouclet's name, the words "Prix Deux Francs".
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 Pérouse, by following his route to New Holland (Australia), and also to map the coasts and islands they encountered. Beautemps-Beaupré'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, completed in 1844, the result of his work, was admired by the entire maritime world.
He was a Knight of Saint-Louis, Knight of Saint Michel, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, he died in 1854, at the age of 88 years. He left to his companions the memory of a simple man, modest, judicious, courageous and good. Leading the way in the work, training his engineers, Beautemps-Beaupré has earned the title of father of hydrography, which has been awarded.
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Reference: Tooley, The mapping of Australia and Antartica, 167, pag. 311.