Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.

"Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia" by Richard Henry Major is a historical account published in the mid-19th century. This work is a compilation of documents and extracts from early manuscript maps that discuss the history of exploration along the coasts of Australia from the early 16th century until the time of Captain Cook. The book provides a glimpse into the early European encounters with this vast land, illustrating the mysteries and misconceptions surrounding its existence prior to more comprehensive exploration. The opening of this account establishes the context of exploration in the southern seas, focusing on the centuries of ambiguity regarding the existence of Australia. It outlines the various navigators and their respective endeavors in mapping and discovering the lands that would eventually be defined as Australia. Major highlights the conflicting narratives from different European nations, particularly the Portuguese and Dutch, regarding their claims and observations, along with references to maps that suggested the existence of the great southern continent. This introductory portion sets the stage for a meticulous examination of early voyages and the associated geographical insights, offering readers an informed perspective on the historical exploration of Australia. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Richard Henry Major was a geographer and map librarian who curated the map collection of the British Museum from 1844 until his retirement in 1880.