1868 Eldridge Nautical Chart Map (1 results)
- First Edition
- Map
Seller: Geographicus Rare Antique Maps, Brooklyn, U.S.A.Geographicus Rare Antique Maps
Contact seller3-star sellerVery good. Full professional restoration. Original 'blue' backing replaced with linen for stability. Some scuffing. Closed tear extending thirty-three-and-one-half (33.5) inches into printed area from bottom margin professionally repaired on verso. Two closed tears extending eleven (11) inches into printed area from top margin p…rofessionally repaired on verso. Edged in beautiful blue silk. Size 57.25 x 33 Inches. A rare first edition 1868 Eldridge / Thaxter nautical chart or maritime map of the Chesapeake Bay. This expansive chart covers the Chesapeake from its mouth at Cape Henry to Baltimore. It extends westward to include the James, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac River estuaries. In a brilliant aesthetic flourish, Washington D.C. appears centered directly below the title area, with the President's House, the Capitol, and the Smithsonian Institution labeled. Includes original hand color highlighting of lighthouses. Eldridge Charts According to Guthorn, Although based upon the official Coast Surveys, the Eldridge charts were unsubsidized and more expensive. They survived because of good design, simplicity, omission of extraneous shore topography, legible sounding and notes, and the use of compass courses only. Their loyal public, fishermen, coaster, tug masters, and yachtsmen, often continued to use obsolete Eldridge charts until the beginning of World War II. (Guthorn, U. S. Coastal Charts , p. 12.) Blueback Charts Blueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century. Bluebacks, as they came to be called, were privately published large format nautical charts known for their distinctive blue paper backing. The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper traditionally used by publishers to wrap unbound pamphlets, was adopted as a practical way to reinforce the low-quality paper used by private chart publishers in an effort to cut costs. That being said, not all blueback charts are literally backed with blue paper. The earliest known blueback charts include a 1760 chart issued by Mount and Page, and a 1787 chart issued by Robert Sayer. The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade. Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chartmakers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chartmakers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th century, when government subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey, began issuing their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement. Publication History and Census Eldridge first issued this chart in 1868 (present example) in partnership with Samuel Thaxter Cushing. It was published and printed by Samuel Thaxter, who also served as Eldridge's sales agent. The chart was one of Eldridge's most popular and went through multiple updates. We are aware of subsequent issues in 1870, 1872, 1874, 1878, 1879, 1882, 1883, and 1895. References: OCLC 649718496. Phillips (America), p. 228 (1868 ed.).
