A Collection of early portraits of Capt. Cook and representations of the famous "Death of Cook"
The collection of 69 images has been assembled over the last 30 years. It has, at its' nucleus, an early 19th century collection of 10 portraits assembled by Sam'l Cousins, R.A. This includes what we believe to be the earliest known portrait of James Cook, dated 1759.
The group of engravings range from 1759 through 1880, with the majority being in the late 18th century. They include aquatints, copper engravings, steel engravings, wood engravings, a photograph and a silk Stevenograph.
On the verso of the early portrait is the pencil inscription "Capt. Cooke (sic) the famous Navigator. 10 separate plates with the great Portrait by Dance. This collection was made by Sam'l Cousins R.A. and cannot now be duplicated." Samuel Cousins appears in Beddie 4269-70 & 4166-69 as the engraver of Bank's portraits from 1822-28. We believe the author of the penciled comment is Colonel Fuller, a noted UK collector of portraits.
Amongst the 24 images of "Deaths" of Cook, is the rare elephant folio "Death of Cook" by Carter; the folio, separately published "Death" by John Webber. Webber was present on the voyage, but not on the scene when it occurred.
[NB The portraits are listed by sculptor, as they are referenced in Beddie, "Bibliography of Capt. James Cook", Mitchell Library, Sydney NSW.]
1. Unrecorded proof etching of young Capt. Cook. Scratched under the head & shoulders portrait is "T. (J.?) Major sculpt. Reg. Cap. 1759." 3 1/2x4 3/4" on india paper and applied to an 8vo sheet. Pencil inscription on verso "Proof by T. Major 1759. Capt. Cooke (sic) before he started out on his famous voyage around the world- 20 years before his death." [NB Andrew David, Cook expert, scholar, and author of "The Charts & Coastal Views of Captain Cook's Voyages" (Hakluyt Society, 1988-97) said he had never seen anything that early but Cook had reached a level of achievement by 1759 to have merited a portrait.] This is believed to have come from the print collection of Col. Fuller, a noted UK collector of portraits. (Based on the handwriting on the verso of the print).
2. [Sherwin, J.K.] [after Dance] Capt. James Cook. Separately published portrait, image 9 x 11" with impression mark and small margins. 1st edition. Published April 20th, 1779. Beddie 3380.
3. Capt. James Cook. Published by Fielding & Walker, 1st Feb 1780. 3 3/4 x 6 1/2" plus margins. Portrait of Cook in a circular frame, with fabric draped around, telescope & globe visible, above a frieze of a representation of Cook's Death. Copper engraving.
4. Representation of the DEATH of Capt. COOK. Publ. by S. Cumberlege, Act of Parliament, July 1, 1781. 4to size plate with folds (ex-book). Modern color.
4A. Sept 11th 1781. Thornton, engraver. A Striking Likeness of the Late Capt. James Cook F.R.S., with list of voyage dates below. Copper engraving 9 x 13 3/4" with margins. From Anderson's compilation.
5. [Carter, George.] Death of Captain James Cook by Indians of O, Why, Ee, one of the Sandwich Islands. G. Carter pinxit. S. Smith engraved the landscape,... Messrs. Sayer and Bennet... Jan. 1st 1784. 16 3/4" x 23 3/8" engraved surface. Beddie 2566.
5A. Jan. 1st 1784. Webber, J. To the Honourable the Lords Commissioners...The Death of Captain Cook... Elephant folio copper engraved "Death of Cook". Engraved by Bartolozzi, Landscape by W. Byrne. 23 x 18 1/2" with sml. margins, added border.
6. [F. Bartolozzi, sculpt.] J. Webber. Captn. James Cook F.R.S. Published as the Act directs, June 4th. 1784, by J. Webber, No. 312 Oxford Street. Oval portrait 4½ x 3 3/4" within 9x12" impression mark plus margins. Very slt. foxing. Nan Kivell p. 73 #4; Beddie 3596.
7. [Tookey, sculptl]. [Hodges, Pinxit]. Capt. JAMES COOK, F.R.S. Publ. W. Bent, July 16 1784, 8vo. Nankivell p. 73 #8; Beddie 3540.
8. [T. Cook, Sculp.] Captn. James Cook. F.R.S. Unusual oval portrait with elaborate sunburst effect surrounding it, almost like a Hawaiian feather coat. Mixed media, portrait in mezzotint & copper engraved. Published Augt. 13th, 1784, by J. Fielding Paternoster Row. Image 4 1/4 x 7 1/4", with sml. margins.
9. Capt. Jams Cook. G. Robinson, publisher, Sept. 1 1784. Oval portrait above a Death of Cook scene. 8vo.
10. [Cook, T. Engraved by. Drawn by Dodd, D.P. & others who where on the Spot.] The Death of Captain James Cook, F.R.S. at Owhyhee in MDCCLXXIX. Publish'd Novr. 20, 1784, by J. Fielding, Pater-noster Row, Scatcherd & Whitaker Ave Maria Lane, & J. Stockdall Piccadilly. Header "Captain Cook's Voyage, Octavo Edition." 8 1/8 x 7 1/8" with margins. Copper engraving, 3 contemporary fold lines.
11. [Halpin, P. sculpt.] [after Dance]. Captain James Cook. (in elaborate type) Oval portrait, 8vo, 1784. Nan Kivell p. 74 #6. Beddie 3294.
12. Jac Cook Oceani Investigator Acerrimus (&) Jac. King LLD FRS. From the European Magazine, London March 1, 1785 by J. Sewell. Two medals showing portrait of Cook & King & the verso. 8vo. Nan Kivell p. 73.
12A. 1 July 1785. After Webber, Bartolozzi, Byrne. The Death of Captain Cook. 15 x 11", sml. margin. Top right corner damaged, not affecting image. Copper engraving.
13. [Birrell sculp., Dodd, dell.] The Death of Captain Cook. Published July 20, 1785 by I. Fielding Pater Noster Row. 5 3/4 x 3 5/8", sml. margin. Copper engraving, ex-book.
14. [Burrows, I., sculpt.] [Van Assen, del.] Crowning the Bust of Captain Cook. Color stipple engraving, poem below. A bust of Cook stands on a pedestal to the left of the print, a cherub trumpets towards heaven behind him. A young maiden is about to lay a crown on the bust and another maiden sits before the statue with paper and pen in hand, a globe, flag and trident on the ground. (1789?) This unrecorded in Beddie. See Beddie 2676 for similar engraving.
15. [Holl, sculpt.] [ after Dance]. Portrait oval of Capt. Cook w/ text below. Oblong 4to, ca. 1790. #5 printed in lower margin. Beddie 3313.
16. [J.S. Klauber Augusta, sculp. Dance, N. pinxit.] James Cook. 1793. 4 x 6" with ample margins. Cook seated in a chair with the map of the (presumably) Southern Hemisphere open.
17. [Thomson, sculpt.] [after Dance]. Capt. Cook. Portrait oval with text below, variant text to (11). Separately published by Harrison & Co, March 1794. Beddie 3933.
18. [Chapman, J. sculpt.] [after Dance]. Captain Cook. London Sept. 20 1800 by J. Wilkes. Color stipple engraving, portrait with vignette of "Death of Cook" below. Beddie 3264.
19. [Engraved by Ridley from an Original Painting.] Captain James Cook. Pub. by J. Gold 103 Shoe Lane. Jan. 31. 1803. Mezzotint oval portrait of Cook above his coat of arms, copper engraved. 3 3/4 x 6 1/2" and margin.
20. [GTW fec]. Death of Captain James Cook. Pub. Jan 24, 1806 (indistinguishable), by James Cundee, London. 8x6" with sml. margin, ex-book. Very unusual copper engraved view. The dress of the Hawaiian natives is quite detailed and decorative.
21. Cook Anson Byron. 3 oval portraits on a lge. 8vo sheet, publ. c. 1820.
22. [Holl, W., sculpt.] [after Dance]. Capt. James Cook, (facsimile signature below). Mezzotint, 8vo, Thomas Kelly, London 1829. Beddie 3297. Cook is surrounded by an elaborate draped pedestal with a soldier, bust and surveyor above.
23. [Holl, W., sculpt.] [after Dance]. Capt. James Cook, (facsimile signature below). Mezzotint, 8vo. Fisher, Son, & Co, London & Paris. Mixed media, mezzotint & copper engraving. Cook with the map opened on the table in front of him.
24. [Horsburgh, sculpt.] [after Nathaniel Dance]. Capt. James Cook. Printed by Oliver & Boyd ca. 1836. 12mo size. Beddie 3323.
25. [Scriven, E., sculpt.] [after Dance]. Captain Cook. From original Picture by Dance, in the Gallery of Greenwich Hospital. Mezzotint, lge. 8vo. Pencil inscription on verso "Capt. Cooke (sic) the famous Navigator. 10 separate plates with the great Portrait by Dance. This collection was made by Sam'l Cousins R.A. and cannot now be duplicated." (1842) Beddie 3363.
25A. Scriven, E, engraver. Proof. Captain Cook. From an original picture by Dance in the Gallery of the Greenwich Hospital. Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Proof on india paper, laid down at the time.
26. Woven silk bookmark ca. 1880 showing Cook (after Dance), with a view above of the Sydney Harbor heads, and La Perouse's Monument below.
27. Capt. James Cook. Discoverer of New South Wales. Lithograph, 4to, 1878. Beddie 3417.
28. [Wright, T., sculpt.] [after Dance]. Capt. James Cook F.R.S. 8vo. Beddie 3400.
29. [H.B. Hall's Sons, New York] Jams Cook. Mixed media portrait on steel after Dance portrait, ca. 1890. Unusual American imprint not recorded in Beddie.
29A. 1925. Scrimshire, A.J., after Nathaniel Cook. Captain Cook. 1728-1779. Lithograph with full color. 5 1/4 x 7" with large margins. With accompanying folio text sheet.
UNDATED
29B. Zatta, Antonio (after). Arrivo Del Navigatore Inglese Cook all' Isola di Taiti (with text in french on the right side). Engraved by Novelli, 15 x 12 3/4", trimmed close, laid down, old creases.
29C. Ramberg, H, designed by. Engraved by Neagle. Neptune Raising Captn Cook up to Immortality... Copper engraving, 8 1/4 x 15 1/2", frontispiece to Bankes Geography.
30. [S.Hill, Sc. Boston.] Captain James Cook, F.R.S. Very unusual full length portrait of Cook by a Boston engraver. 3 x 5 3/8", with little margin, tipped onto 2 strips of laid paper. Copper engraving. A slightly dandified Cook, with long slender fingers, flowing trousers which display delicate angles and careful buckled shoes. He stands in front of a tropical background holding a musket, with a sword hanging at his side.
31. [T. Stothard del, T. Cook sculp.] Sacred to Cook's immortal name,... 3 3/4 x 7 1/4" and margins. Copper engraving, with poem underneath. A bust of Cook in the foreground is being admired by 3 cherubs, while a Greek maiden points up the hill to a domed temple. Scattered books and scrolls list the names of Bacon, Newton, Caesar, Charles XII, Alexander.
32. The Death of Captain Cook. 7 x 4 3/8", trimmed close. Sepia aquatint. An interesting view, interested primarily in the faces of the participants. Cook looking young & strong in profile, with a native poised to plunge a dagger in his back. Each of the faces of this veritable crowd is clearly delineated.
33. Iac. Cook Oceani Investigator Acermius. Copper engraving of the front & back of the Royal Society's Medal for Cook. Beneath is the Star and Collar of the Order of St. Patrick. 3 1/2 x 6 3/4", trimmed close.
34. Capt. James Cook, F.R.S. This celebrated circumnavigator was killed at Owhyhee, Feby 14th 1779. He was born at Marton, near Whitby, in Yorkshire, Octr 27th, 1728. 3x4", mixed media, aquatint & copper engraving. Unusual.
35. [J. Rogers, engraver. John Tallis & Company, London & New York]. Captain Cook. OB 1779. From the Original Picture by Dance, in the Gallery of Greenwich Hospital. Steel engraving ca. 1854 by Tallis, with their signature vignette views surrounding.
36. [J. Rogers, engraver. John Tallis & Company, London & New York]. Captain Cook. OB 1779. From the Original Picture by Dance in the Gallery of Greenwich Hospital. Script typeface on subtitle. Steel engraving ca. 1853 by Tallis, with their signature vignette views surrounding.
37. [Rivers, sculp after N. Dance]. (No title) Proof portrait of Cook above a sml. representation of the "Death of Cook". London, John Bumpus, 23 Skinner Street. Copper engraving, Portrait 2 1/2 by 3", Death 1 1/4 x 1/2". Impression mark & large margins.
38. The Death of Captain Cook. Tallis's version of the "Death". With their signature vignette views & elaborate title. 9 1/2 x 7", slt. trimmed lower edge.
39. The Death of Captn. Cook. Sml. anonymous copper engraved view. 3 5/8 x 3", sml. margin. Uncommon.
40. [Pye, sc.] Death of Captain Cook. 5 5/8 x 3 3/4" & margins. Copper engraving, on a 4to sheet of paper, with view of "A Man of Kamtschatka Travelling in Winter" below.
41. The Death of Captn. Cook, at the Sandwich Islands 1779. Sml. copper engraving from a book , header reads "Manners & Customs of Nations. Pl. 53, p. 498. 5 x 3 1/2". Captain Cook is flat on his face, the Hawaiians, a la Rousseau, dominate the view.
42. Captn. James Cook F.R.S. Uncommon copper engraving, oval portrait of Cook in profile, title in a column beneath. 3 1/2 x 5 1/2". Slt. horizontal crease in portrait.
43. [McGready, Thomson & Niven. McFarlane & Erskine, Lithog. Edinburgh.] Captain Cook. Lithograph portrait of Cook, with a statue of him inset in the bottom center. Tan background.6 1/4 x 10 1/4".
44. [C. Frosch sc.] James Cook. Im Verlag von Ernst Fleischer in Leipzig. Stipple engraved portrait, rather strangely delineated by this Austrian artist. 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 plus margins. Marginal damage incl. slt. black marking at left.
45. Statue of Captain Cook at Sydney. Steel engraving, 5 1/2 x 7 3/4" with margins.
46. [Wale delin, Grainger sculp.] O-Tai (a Chief of Otaheite) accompanied with his Wife, & c. presenting one of his Sisters to Captn. Cook, on board the Resolution Sloop. 4 3/8 x 7 7/8". London Published by Alexr. Hogg at the Kings Arms No. 16 Paternoster Row. From an octavo book published by Hogg.
47. Repairing of Capt. Cook's Ship in Endeavour River. Anonymous copper engraved view of the Endeavour beached in Queensland, with the hole in the hull being inspected by sailors in a dingy. Attractive sml. view. 5 1/2 x 3 3/8", ex-book.
48. Albumen Photograph. Sydney. Captain Cook's Monument. 1887. Albumen photo 5 3/8 x 7 1/2", foxed, mounted on card, title in manuscript below. Item #1020
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