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Working Sea Charts

Separately issued sea charts were the charts that allowed ships--the primary means of commercial, private and military transportation until the mid-nineteenth century--to navigate the seas and oceans of the world. These were the charts that were used by explorers, merchantmen, and naval captains and thus which oiled the wheels of history. Their desirability is enhanced by their great scarcity. This has two main causes. First, any sheet of paper being used on board a ship at sea was often subject to damage or even destruction. As well, it has always been considered important to destroy any out-of-date chart in case someone inadvertently might use it. An out-of-date chart can be extremely dangerous for ship and crew, so most were destroyed as soon as updated charts became available.

Go to a short history of sea charts

A rare example of a working blue-back sea chart by the E. & G.W. Blunt showing the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, from western Europe and Africa to America, showing the entire Gulf of Mexico and as far inland in North America as the Great Lakes and Hudson's Bay. Though examples of this chart would have been carried by many ships in the mid-nineteenth century, few would have survived. Not only would such charts be subject to the usual wear from use on ship board, but it is traditional to destroy (rather than simply put aside) charts once replaced by updated versions, for inaccurate, out-of-date information was too dangerous to be left around for possible inadvertent use. $750

Isaac Purdy. "Laurie's Reduced Chart of the Ethiopic or Southern Atlantic Ocean." London: R.H. Laurie, 8 January 1857. Separately issued "blueback" chart, backed on blue paper and rolled. 36 3/4 x 48 1/2. Engraving. With considerable staining, water stains and repaired tears. Back with old patches. Considerable manuscript navigation notes. Still intact. A good example of a working chart.

An impressively detailed working chart of the southern Atlantic Ocean, based on the latest surveys of "Officers of The British Navy." This map was published by Richard Holems Laurie (1777-1858). Having taken over his father's partnership in the renowned firm of Laurie & Whittle, Richard eventually became the sole proprietor of the mapmaking firm after the death of James Whittle in 1818. With the help of John Purdy, Alexander Findlay, and Alexander George Findlay, Laurie began to specialize in the production of nautical publications and charts. Drawing on his firm's long experience, Laurie produced maps that were exceptional for their crisp, clear detail as evidenced even in the superior calligraphy of the title cartouche. Typically of bluebacks, this map has precise detail of all the coastlines, with geographic coordinates, shoals, and other navigational information. This chart is particularly concerned with the navigation around the Cape of Good Hope and Tierra del Fuego, so it shows the routes used to round these southern points. The entire coastline of southern South America is shown, as the western coast of southern Africa and up the east coast as far as the River St. John. Included are a number of detailed inset maps, including one of Tierra del Fuego and one of the Cape Good Hope and its bays as far as Capetown. $575

Europe

Having taken over his father's partnership in the renowned firm of Laurie & Whittle, Richard Holmes Laurie (1777-1858) eventually became the sole proprietor of the mapmaking firm after the death of James Whittle in 1818. With the help of John Purdy, Alexander Findlay, and Alexander George Findlay, Laurie began to specialize in the production of nautical publications and charts. Drawing on his firm's long experience, Laurie produced maps that were exceptional for their crisp, clear detail as evidenced even in the superior calligraphy of the title cartouche. This is a chart of the western coasts of Europe updated to just after the turn of the century. The British Isles, except for the northern-most parts, are shown, and the chart extends down just past Gibraltar. Many insets are included of ports along the coasts. Typically of bluebacks, this map has precise detail of all the coastlines, with geographic coordinates, shoals, and other navigational information. It was intended for ships sailing the coast of Brazil so details of depths, rivers, harbors, lights houses and such are particularly copious. This chart was heavily used, but it is still in very good condition for a working chart. $450

Holyhead Bay. London: Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty, 1902. Separately issued chart. Engraving by Davies & Company & J. & C. Walker. Sold by J. Potter, London. Some transferring of image, but overall very good condition.

The charts published by the Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty in London at the end of the nineteenth century represent well both cartographic history and also the history of European naval technology and surveying techniques. The concise coastal surveys were compiled to meet the naval demand for the most contemporary description of the Mediterranean which illustrated necessary nautical information. The engraving is executed in a very clean and crisp fashion which is indicative of the English style of mapmaking in the mid to late nineteenth century. This is as fine a map of Holyhead Bay as one can find. $150

Asia

A rare, working blueback chart showing the northern coast of Borneo and the Island of Palawan. Charts like this were intended to be used at sea, and so they were laid onto a blue backing paper and rolled for ease of storage and use. Though examples of this chart would have been carried by many ships in the mid-nineteenth century, few would have survived. Not only would such charts be subject to the usual wear from use on ship board, but it is traditional to destroy (rather than simply put aside) charts once replaced by updated versions, for inaccurate, out-of-date information was too dangerous to be left around for possible inadvertent use. This chart was the fourth chart in the Imray series of charts from Great Britain to China, and it was as fine any of this region. Typically of bluebacks, this map has precise detail of all the coastlines, with depths, geographic coordinates, shoals, light houses and other navigational information Also included are a number of inset maps with greater detail. $375

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