DESCRIPTION: Small antique nautical chart / plan depicts the small walled village of Agde, France along the lower portion of the Riviere de l'Eraux (Hérault River) with two bridges. At top left is the junction of that river with the Canal Royal (Canal du Midi) and l'Ecluse (locks), well known because of their unusual round shape. Other feature include Mont d'Adge, Fort de Brescon offshore of "le Mole" (a breakwater or jetty), la Conque, and Plage de Tau (Thau).
This antique nautical chart was produced ca. 1730 by French hydrographer and pilot of the French royal galley "La Reale" Henry Michelot. The port plan was one of 37 original plans published in Marseilles by Michelot and Laurens Bremond in a volume titled "Recueil de Plusieurs Plans de Ports et Rades de la Mer Mediterranée." Later in the 18th century the plans were copied and reprinted by Roux, Allezard, Kitchin and others.
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.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1727
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: France
BODY OF WATER: Mediterranean
CONDITION: Very good.
Paper only very slightly tanned but strong with good platemark.
COLORING: None
ENGRAVER: P. Starck-man
SIZE: 9
" x
6 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 4
PRICE: $375
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