1898 Chart of Boston Bay

Rarely found restrike of an 1804 chart by Nathanael Bowditch of the Harbors of Salem, Marblehead, Beverly, and Manchester. Showing the Islands of Great Misery, Satan, Cuney, Winter,...

Original map of Martinique from 1887 with chartered waters around the island. Prepared from a French survey, completed in 1825, showing town, ports, rivers and tributaries. Published...

Title: c. 1690 Frederick de Wit Sea Chart of Hudson Bay, Baffin Bay, and Greenland - Engraved by Romeyn de Hooghe This striking sea chart by Frederick de Wit, titled "Septemtrionali...

Bay of Saint Helena: French Naval Chart by N.B. Ingénieur de la Marine, 18th Century This meticulously detailed copper engraving, titled 'Carte de la Baye de Sainte Helene' (Map of the Bay of Saint Helena), was drawn by N.B., an engineer of the French Navy (*Ingénieur de la Marine*). The map was created based on the navigational observations of mariners and published in the 18th century, most likely in France. It offers a precise and practical representation of Saint Helena Bay, a crucial anchorage point in the South Atlantic Ocean. Saint Helena Bay, located on the island of Saint Helena, was an important stopover for ships sailing between Europe and Asia, particularly for Dutch and British vessels during the Age of Exploration and the later colonial period. Its significance was further heightened when the island became the final exile location of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1815 to 1821. The map shows the bay with impressive attention to detail, depicting the coastline with numerous soundings marked in French and English leagues (*Lieues Marines de France et d'Angleterre*), allowing navigators to gauge the water depth and avoid hazards. The bay’s natural topography, including hills and coastal elevations, is rendered in delicate engraving lines. A large central peak dominates the landscape, surrounded by rugged terrain, while a smaller inlet and river (*Riviere*) are also shown, highlighting the complex geography of the bay. A decorative fleur-de-lis compass rose marks the left side of the chart, indicating orientation and providing a clear sense of direction for mariners. The map's clean and elegant design reflects the French cartographic tradition of combining functional navigation aids with aesthetic appeal. The chart includes practical features such as scale indicators and coastal profiles that help sailors recognize the bay from a distance. The detailed soundings marked throughout the bay make this map an invaluable tool for understanding the navigational challenges of the area, particularly for large, heavily laden ships. This rare chart belongs to a series of marine maps...