DESCRIPTION: Rare. Little-known, engraved "bottle chart" of the Atlantic Ocean by A.B. Becher (1796-1876), a Commander in England's Royal Navy. After graduation from the Royal Naval College, Becher began a long career that included several assignments related to hydrographic surveying including Canada, the Azores, Africa, and the Cape Verde Islands.
No sales of the "bottle chart" recorded in AMPR. No other similar chart is found for sale online. Only two institutional holdings are confirmed.
In 1843 Becher published this chart in the Nautical Magazine, showing the courses followed by floating bottles where there was information available about the location the bottle was thrown into the sea and where it was found. With his bottle chart Becher included a table with data about the bottle such as the name of the ship, latitude and longitude, the dates the bottle was cast away and found, etc. The data were derived from published records of bottle discoveries that Becher had systematically recorded and published in the Nautical Magazine over the course of 40 years. Those data and associated letters to the editor and comments became known as the "Bottle Papers."
Published by the Proprietors of the Nautical Magazine Feb 1, 1843. Engraved by J and C Walker. Becher was founder and editor of the Nautical Magazine from 1832 - 1871.
Becher also authored "The Storm Compass or Seaman's Hurricane Companion", a booklet for the mariner explaining hurricanes with an emphasis on best practices to predict and avoid hurricanes.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1843
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: World - Western Hemisphere
BODY OF WATER: Atlantic Ocean
CONDITION: Good.
Several chips to the margin, not impacting the image. Laid archivally to Japan paper.
COLORING: Bold hand coloring.
ENGRAVER: J & C Walker
SIZE: 18
" x
12 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION:
PRICE: $600
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