Hydrographic charts or Admiralty charts are maps designed as aids to navigation at sea. They are produced by the British Admiralty. The Hydrographic Office, a sub-department of the British Admiralty, was established in 1795 and issued its first officially published Admiralty chart in November 1800. Admiralty charts show navigational hazards such as reefs and wrecks, and navigational aids such as lights, buoys and beacons. Nineteenth-century charts may show coastal elevations and topographic views, useful to identify landfalls and prominent fixing marks. They may also include details of coastal forts and other defenses. Admiralty charts are continually updated and corrected. These corrections were often made by amending the original engraved plate and issuing the chart as a new edition; in other cases the chart was completely re-drawn.
DESCRIPTION/CONDITION: Chart Number 2738. Surveyed 1828 - 1856. London, Published at the Admiralty 1860. Sold by J D Potter Agent for the sale of Admiralty Charts, engraved by J & C Walker. Large corrections to 1862, Small corrections to 1885. Large engraved,linen backed ship's navigation chart on heavy grade paperwith vertical fold as issued, measuring overall 100cm x 67cm. (39.5 inches x 26.5 inches). Condition: general handling marks, dust soiling, old plotting lines and numbers in pencil, a few tiny pinholes and a small light worm track noticeable when held to the light - please refer to images and examine carefully. Thank you.
Genuine rare admiralty chart - could not find another. This edition with last correction date 1885 is genuinely over 130 years old and not a recent copy or recent printing. As charts were constantly updated (corrected) older versions would be discarded, and it is a wonder that these older editions without the most recent corrections have survived to this day.
