The First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea Being The Narrative of Portuguese and Spanish Discoveries in the Australasian Regions, between the Years 1492-1606, with Descriptions of their Old Charts.

** "The First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea" by George Collingridge is a historical narrative that recounts the maritime explorations undertaken by the Portuguese and Spanish in the Australasian area between the late 1400s and early 1600s. It presents a history of how Australia and New Guinea came to be known to the rest of the world through the adventures of explorers, their journeys, and the maps they created. The book starts by setting the stage, explaining how the desire to find the Spice Islands drove nations to explore and discover new lands, detailing how Portugal and Spain competed on the seas, and focusing on important people like Magellan. The story goes deep into the historical maps and the reasons why these countries were so eager to explore, highlighting the difficulties and goals of the explorers. **