18th century map of the Galapagos Islands

BOWEN, Emanuel.

The Gallapagos Islands Discovered and Described by Capt. Cowley in 1684.
London, 1725. 325 x 205mm.

Although the title claims that Ambrose Cowley discovered the islands in 1684, the Spanish had known about the Galapagos group since 1535, naming them after the tortoises that laid their eggs on the beaches. In 1832 colonization began, and in 1835 the visit of Charles Darwin made them famous. His 'Origin of Species' was based on the fauna of these isolated islands.


Stock ID : 19825