The first illustration of a Maori's tattooed face

HAWKESWORTH, John.

No 13. [The head of a New Zealander.]
London: Strahan and Cadell, 1773. 185 x 225mm.

An illustration of the intricately-tattooed face of a Maori, published in Hawkesworth's 'An account of the voyages undertaken by the order of His present Majesty for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere...' which included the Official Account of Captain Cook's First Voyage. It shows the Maori head-and-shoulders, with a comb in his hair, a stone ear ornament and a tooth necklace.
Although tattooing was already known, it was Cook's voyage that introduced the Samoan word 'Tatau' to England, with Sir Joseph Banks describing the procedure in his journals.

The plate only has a plate number, so the title, as above, comes from the index.


Stock ID : 22974