Rochette, Louis S.
1783

Chart of the Northern Atlantic Coast of South America

The Coast of Guyana from the Oroonoko to the River Amazons and the Inland Parts with the Islands of Barbadoes Tobago etc.

DESCRIPTION: Antique nautical chart of the coast of South America including Venezuela, the island of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. Four inset plans: "The Entrances of the Rivers Essequibo and Demerari", Entrance to the River Berbice", "Surinam River from the Dutch", and "Port of Cayenne from the French". From suveys conducted by Captain Edward Thompson, commander of the Hyaena

This chart was printed in 1783 by William Faden, English cartographer and map publisher, who after the death of Thomas Jefferys suceeded Jefferys to the title of "Geographer to the King". Carries the following endorsement at bottom: "Approved by the Chart Committee of the Admiralty" which would have been a seal of approval important to both the buyers and to Faden. Faden's charts were preferred by the Chart Committee of the Admiralty, appointed beginning in 1807 to select suitable charts for the fleet.

"They selected two hundred of the least unsatisfactory, half of them Admiralty charts, either already published or in course of preparation, and the remainder from the commercial publishers. An impressive 50% of the one hundred privately published charts came from William Faden who published many surveys from naval officers so probably offered more charts of areas frequented by warships…" (Fisher, Susanna. The Makers of Blueback Charts: A History of Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson Ltd. Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson Ltd. 2001. p. 11)

The chart is annotated with numerous fascinating notes and comments about the local geography and inhabitants. For example:

"Orinoco Islands Covered with palm trees and overflowed from the middle of January to the middle of July. They are inhabited by the Guaraunas and Tivitivas whose houses are built on piles driven in the mud or among branches of the trees".

and,

"Runaway negroes with whom peace was made in September 1761".

CREATOR: Rochette, Louis S.

PUBLICATION DATE: 1783

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: Guiana

BODY OF WATER: Atlantic Ocean

CONDITION: Fair . On heavy paper with a single vertical fold as issued. Some browning and staining toward the lower half and at the centerfold. Wide margins. No holes tears or other issues.

COLORING: Outline hand color.

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 27 " x 20 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 51

PRICE: $250

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