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43. Journey Round the World of the Imperial and Royal Austrian Frigate Novara

Chosen by:
Associate Professor Walter Veit,
School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

Scherzer, Karl, Ritter von, 1821-1903.

Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858 und 1859 (Vienna, 1861-62) 3 vols.

In 1861-62, Karl von Scherzer(1821-1903), published in Vienna his Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858 und 1859 (Round-the-world Voyage of the Austrian Frigate Novara in the Years 1857, 1858 and 1859), following the successful completion of the last round-the-world scientific expedition of a sailing ship with a special brief to “show the Austrian flag on the Seven Seas,”  collect economic data to advance Austrian exports and demonstrate Austria’s standing in the advanced scientific world.

Scherzer, Karl, Ritter von, 1821-1903.

Inspired by Alexander von Humboldt, the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian initiated the project, entrusting 1856 Commodore Bernhard von Wüllerstorf-Urbair (1816-83) with its execution. He chose the frigate Novara, a 50 meter military sailing-ship serving as a training-ship for marine cadets, a crew of 345 and a scientific commission of seven noted scientist among them Karl von Scherzer (Topographical geography, ethnology, economics and official historiographer of the expedition),  Ferdinand Hochstetter (Mineralogy, geology and palaeontology), Georg von Frauenfeld ( Zoology, preservation of species),  Johannes Zelebor (Preservation of zoological species),  Eduard Schwarz  (Botany),  Anton Jellinek (Botanist, gardener), Joseph Selleny (Artist), and Lieutenant Robert Müller (Meteorological observer, linguist, and aid to Karl von Scherzer). The captain, Bernhard Aloys von Wüllerstorf-Urbair was responsible for oceanography, hydrography, meteorology and geophysics. They were equipped with the latest scientific instruments and laboratory space on board for the expected collection from all areas of scientific research.

Sailing from Trieste, Austria’s only deep-sea harbour, on April 30, 1857, it sailed, in 551 days, via Gibraltar, Madeira, Rio de Janeiro, Cap of Good Hope, Ceylon, Madras, the Nicobar Islands, Singapore, Java, Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney and Tahiti. Arriving in Sydney on November 5 for repairs, official receptions, festivities with the German-speaking community and travels to the interior, they left on December 7, 1858.

The journey was a great success, bringing home a collection of facts and scientific exhibits which can be viewed today in the museums of Vienna and which are published in a number of lavishly illustrated volumes. Karl von Scherzer’s 3-volume narrative of the voyage became a best-seller in 1861-62. It was subsequently published in many popular and abridged editions. A translation into English: Narrative of the circumnavigation of the globe by the Austrian Frigate "Novara" was published in London: Saunders, Otley & Co, already in 1861; a copy of this is also in the Monash Rare Books Collection.  The original of Scherzer’s Journal is located in the collection of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.

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