U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
1853

Antique Rolled Chart of Cape Fear, North Carolina

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Preliminary chart of the entrances to the Cape Fear River and New Inlet, North Carolina

DESCRIPTION: SOLD

Scarce separately issued rolled antique chart (no folds) from 1853 of Cape Fear, North Carolina with extensive sailing directions. Coverage on this fine old engraving includes "Smith's Island", now Bald Head Island; "Smithville", now Southport, NC; Federal Point; Champagne Creek; Zeek's Island, Battery Island and Striking Island. Numerous small waterways are charted including Dozier's Creek, Elizabeth Creek, Dutchman Creek, and Price's Creek.

Depicts Fort Caswell on Oak Island protecting the entrance to the Cape Fear River. That pentagonal shaped structure, completed in 1836, was designed to house 61 cannon. Fort Caswell was named for Governor Richard Caswell, a North Carolina hero of the American Revolution. A lawyer and surveyor by training, Caswell represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress of 1774 and 1775. As a Patriot officer in the American Revolutionary War, Caswell led North Carolina militiamen in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.

The chart would have facilitated navigation from the Atlantic Ocean past Cape Fear though the Main Ship Channel to the Cape Fear River and Wilmington through its use of numerous depth soundings, buoy locations, sandbars, isobaths, and bearing lines.

This is a scarce, separately issued, rolled nautical chart of Cape Fear, NC on heavy paper, not the more common folded version on thin, trimmed paper that was issued by the Coast Survey with other charts in an annual report to Congress. With the circular logo of the Coast Survey Office. Price when issued was 15 cents.

Very fine detail on the chart and lack of attribution to electrotype reproduction suggest that this chart is based on the Coast Survey's original hand-engraved copper plate .

CREATOR: U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey

PUBLICATION DATE: 1853

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: Cape Fear River

CONDITION: Very good.  An exceptional example with no folds. Bright and clean on heavy paper with wide margins and a prominent platemark. Small repaired tear in bottom right margin well outside the engraved area.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER: 

SIZE: 14 " x 18 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 0

PRICE: $

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