Smyth, William Henry
1857

The Coast of Egypt from Alamaid to the Rosetta Branch of the Nile

The Coast of Egypt from Alamaid to the Rosetta Branch of the Nile by Captain W.H. Smyth R.N. 1822. Variation to 1857.

DESCRIPTION: Fascinating antique nautical chart of the Egyptian coast including Alexandria (Iskanderiah), Egypt, with its old port, and Aboukir Bay, the site of Admiral Horatio Nelson's decisive victory over the French fleet of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of the Nile (Fr. Bataille d'Aboukir). At extreme right of the chart is one of the tributaries of the Nile River with the town of Rosetta ( Raschid ) and to the Northeast Fort Raschid now renamed Fort Julien. Fort Raschid is perhaps best known as the location where the stele known as the "Rosetta Stone" was discovered during a reconstruction in 1799.

This chart is a 1857 copperplate engraved edition of a nautical chart originally published in 1822 by W.H. Smyth of the British Royal Navy. This fine chart was made based on work conducted aboard the ship Adventure in 1821 as part of Smyth's survey of the North coast of Africa from the Strait of Gibraltar to the mouth of the Nile River.

With two inset coastal profiles: "Abukeer Castle from the Eastward", a pretty view of a felucca under full sail passing offshore Aboukir Castle (Taposiris Parva) and "Arab's Tower S.E. 10 miles".

With the oval logo of the British Hydrographical Office. Price when issued was 2 shillings. Number 242.

Captain William Henry Smyth(1791-1856)

Captain (later Admiral) William Henry Smith (1788 - 1865) became known as "Mediterranean Smyth" because of the large number of charts published by the Hydrographical Office of the British Admiralty based on Smyth's surveys of the Mediterranean coasts during the period 1813 - 1824.

W. H. Smyth was esteemed by Captain P. P. King who named Smyth Harbor after him. Captain Smyth commanded the Adventure before King and was an early member of a number of learned societies, well known for his hydrographic charts, for his astronomical work, and for a wide range of publications in varied fields.

W. H. Smyth was descended paternally from Captain John Smith who was a key figure in the early colonization of North America by the British. John Smith was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. [1]

[1] http://www.mocavo.com/Memoirs-of-Hydrography-Microform-Including-Brief-Biographies-of-the-Principal-Officers-Who-Have-Served-in-H-M-Naval-Surveying-Service-Between-the-Years-1750-and-1885/307233/71

CREATOR: Smyth, William Henry

PUBLICATION DATE: 1857

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: Egypt

BODY OF WATER: Aboukir Bay

CONDITION: Very Good. Clean without condition issues on heavy wove paper. Prominent platemark. Wide margins.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 24 " x 18 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 0

PRICE: $550

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