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1872 British Admiralty Map or Chart of Crete or Candia, Greece (set of 2 maps)
Crete-admiralty-1872$450.00
Title
Mediterranean. Western Part of Candia or Crete (Kirit Adasi Turkish). Eastern Part of Candia or Crete (Kirit Adasi Turkish).
1872 (dated) 28 x 79 in (71.12 x 200.66 cm) 1 : 1150000
1872 (dated) 28 x 79 in (71.12 x 200.66 cm) 1 : 1150000
Description
This is a large 1872 nautical chart or maritime map of the Island of Crete or Candia, the largest and most populous Greek Island, issued by the British Admiralty. A set of two maps, the left hand side map represents the western portion of the island while the second sheet represents the eastern portion of the island. The chart features both nautical and inland detail noting both topographical features, including Crete's mountainous interiors, and thousands of depth soundings (in fathoms). Important ports, Island and navigational points are carefully noted.
The western sheet, first published in 1862, includes two inset maps of Port Malta and Sphakia Anchorage as well as four elevation profiles. The eastern sheet, published in 1852, includes eight elevation profiles. The last correction made on the present examples is in 1872 though the maps may have been issued at a later date. The basic plate remains unchanged. Surveyed by Capt. T. Spratt, R.N., C.B. Engraved by J & C Walker for the British Admiralty under the supervision of Captain Washington R.N. Sold by J. D. Potter, Agent for the Admiralty. Issued as chart no. 2536A and 2536B.
The western sheet, first published in 1862, includes two inset maps of Port Malta and Sphakia Anchorage as well as four elevation profiles. The eastern sheet, published in 1852, includes eight elevation profiles. The last correction made on the present examples is in 1872 though the maps may have been issued at a later date. The basic plate remains unchanged. Surveyed by Capt. T. Spratt, R.N., C.B. Engraved by J & C Walker for the British Admiralty under the supervision of Captain Washington R.N. Sold by J. D. Potter, Agent for the Admiralty. Issued as chart no. 2536A and 2536B.
Cartographer
The British Admiralty Office (1795 - Present) or the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office refers to the Branch of the English government that is responsible for the command of the British Navy. In 1795 King George III created the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, known in short as the U.K.H.O., to provide top notch nautical charts to the vast Royal Navy. Prior the founding of the Admiralty the surveying and creation of nautical charts was primarily a commercial venture wherein the cartographer himself, more of than not, actually financed the printing of his own material. The great navigator Cook himself is known to have scrambled for funds to publish his own seminal charts - the most important and advanced of the period. The system of privately funded nautical mapping and publishing left vast portions of the world uncharted and many excellent charts unpublished. King George III, responding significant loss in trade revenue related to shipwrecks and delay due to poor charts, recognized the need for an institutionalized government sponsored cartographic agency - the Admiralty. The first head of the Admiralty, a position known as Hydrographer, was the important cartographer Alexander Dalrymple. Dalrymple started by organizing and cataloging obtainable charts before initiating the laborious process of updating them and filling in the blanks. The first official Admiralty Chart appeared in 1800 and detailed Quiberon Bay in Brittany. By 1808 the position of Hydrographer fell to Captain Thomas Hurd. Hurd advocated the sale of Admiralty charts to the general public and, by the time he retired in 1829, had issued and published some 736 charts. Stewardship of the organization then passed to Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort. It was under Beaufort's administration that the Admiralty truly developed as a "chart making" as opposed to a "chart cataloging" institution. Beaufort held his post from 1829 to 1854. In his 25 years at the Admiralty Beaufort created nearly 1500 new charts and sponsored countless surveying and scientific expeditions - including the 1831 to 1836 voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle. By 1855 the Admiralty's chart catalog listed some 1,981 charts. More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Very good. Backed on linen. Some wear and verso repair over centerfold and bottom edge of the left sheet. Minor wear and some spotting at places. Set of 2 sheets.