Michelot and Bremond
1730

Plan de la Baye et Rades de Cadis et des Environs (Cadiz)

DESCRIPTION: Highly detailed antique chart of Cadiz, Spain from Rota to Chiclana showing guard towers, water sources, salt pans, and defenses with prominent topographical features drawn pictorially. Among the many noted habitations are: Medina (Medina-Sidonia), Rota (Rotta), St. Maria, Chiclana, and Puerto Real. Other features include Tour (tower) St. Sebastien, Tours d'Hercule, Canal de St. Pierre (with locations where galleons we built and careened), , Tour Vermea, Fort Matagord, Fort St. Laurent, and the Isle de Tour de St. Pierre.

Of special note is the hilltop village of Medina (Medina-Sidonia) used as a range marker for the main channel into the Bay of Cadiz. That village has a history that dates back to Roman times and was the ancestral home to the Duke of Medina Sidonia who reluctantly led and lost the Spanish "Invincible" Armada on a planned invasion of England in 1588.

This old chart and port plan of Cadiz is one of a handful of Michelot and Bremond charts that were copied by Thomas Kitchin and others for more than 30 years and it should be a part of any serious collection of maps from that region. The charts were published from Marseilles in Michelot's and Bremond's important 37-plate atlas of 1730: “Recueil de Plusiers Plans des Ports et Rades de la Mer Mediterranee".

Numerous soundings, underwater hazards, and anchorages are noted. Colored compass rose.

Henry Michelot and Laurens Bremond

Henri Michelot was an early 18th century French cartographer with a close connection to the sea. Michelot, self-described Hydrographer and Pilot of the Galere Royale or Royal Galley, was then part of a corps of approximately 40 galleys (galeres) or oared sailing vessels stationed in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast. In the Mediterranean, galleys were based primarily at the arsenal in Marseilles, France. Galleys were typically rigged with the triangular Mediterranean "Lateen" sail(s).

Bookseller and royal hydrographer Laurent Bremond "Hydrographe du Roi et de la Ville" sold charts and maritime books from his establishment in Marseille located near the port at the corner of Reboul street ( "au Coin de Reboul").

The output of Michelot and Bremond, from approximately 1715 through 1730 consisted of an atlas of 16 small-scale charts, a port book of 37 large-scale charts, and a coast pilot of the Mediterranean: "Portulan de la Mer Mediterranee, ou Guide des Pilotes Cotiers." Their work (the "Portulan" was published in several languages at least until 1805) and was a primary source of navigational information about the Mediterranean for years. The charts of Michelot and Bremond were often copied by others such as Kitchin and Roux.

CREATOR: Michelot and Bremond

PUBLICATION DATE: 1730

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: Spain

BODY OF WATER: Mediterranean

CONDITION: Very good. Paper only very slightly tanned but strong with good platemark. Strong impression.

COLORING: Modern detailed color on the compass rose.

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 10 " x 7 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 4

PRICE: $300

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