1902 Bermuda-Atlantic Steamship Company Map of Bermuda

An extremely rare and previously unknown c. 1902 map of Bermuda issued to promote the Bermuda-Atlantic Steamship Company. The map covers all of Bermuda and some of the surrounding reefs. Shows roadways, shipping channels, streets, and some undersea topography. An inset map in the upper right illustrates Bermuda within proximity to other Atlantic destinations. An illustration of the Bermuda-Atlantic flagship, the S.S. Oceana, appears in the lower right.

The map describes the S. S. Oceana as

largest, fastest, most luxurious and the only exclusively first-class passenger steamer to Bermuda. Superb accommodations for over 600 first class passengers. Electric fans in every room; many staterooms with brass beds; suites-de-luxe with private baths; finest promenade deck in the world. Orchestra, promenade dances, gymnasium, wireless. Only Bermuda with submarine safety signals.

The Bermuda-Atlantic Company acquired the S.S. Oceana from a German company who had used it to run the Berlin - Alexandria route. They began running the New York - Bermuda route around 1902, attracting luminaries in politics, business, and the arts. Mark Twain, embarking in a wheel chair, took the S. S. Oceana to New York from Bermuda in 1910, just months before his death.

Nonetheless, heavy competition for the New York - Bermuda route led to an all-out price war between Bermuda-Atlantic and the Quebec Steamship Company. Despite prominent clients, by 1911 prices for the New York - Bermuda route had dropped from 20 SUD to 10 USD for first-class round fare, making the route accessible to all and turning Bermuda into a major tourist hub. Unfortunately, the price war also made running the route impractical and by 1910 the Bermuda-Atlantic Company was already in decline. It is unclear how long they continued to run the New York-Bermuda route, but they probably ceased operation late in 1911.

This rare map of Bermuda has no printed imprint, date, and or publisher. We have found no other examples of this map in any collection, public or private.