1819 / 1827 Norie Nautical Map of the Cape of Good Hope / False Bay, South Africa

A remarkable and rare 1819 / 1827 J. W. Norie commercial nautical chart of False Bay and the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The chart was issued shortly after the 1814 Treaty of Vienna when British sovereignty over the Cape Colony was internationally recognized. Norie issued it as False Bay and Simon's Town were emerging as key British naval and commercial winter shelters and resupply depots - marking them as strategic stopping points on voyages to Asia.

A Closer Look

This map is based upon surveys ordered by Sir Robert Stopford during his time as Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope Station (1810 - 1827). Coverage embraces from Robben Island south to the Cape of Good Hope and False Cape, including Rocky Bank. False Bay and the Promontory of the Cape are illustrated in full. In the vicinity of Cape Town, the map offers exceptional inland detail, identifying numerous private estates by the name of their owners, along the various rivers between Table Bay and False Bay. An inset of Simon's Bay appears in the upper right, near the title area, with important buildings identified.

Map

Beneath the main chart of False Bay, there is a secondary map of the Cape Colony extending from the Cape District in the west to Cape Morgan and the Sandy Point or 'First Point of Natal.' This map offers limited inland cartography, including major mountains, roads, and riverways. Some towns are noted, among them are De Beer Valley, Somerset, various forts, 'Gaikas Residence,' Zwellendam, Worchester, Setllenbosch, Caledon, and more.

Throughout both maps, there are detailed depth soundings and curious annotations relating maritime and other information. Nighttime sailing directions into Table Bay appear in the upper left. There is an illustration of the lighthouse at Green Point. The map is further embellished by four land profiles.

False Bay

False Bay, located on the southern coast of South Africa, is a large natural bay that stretches from Cape Hangklip to the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town. The bay’s name originates from the confusion it caused early sailors who mistook it for Table Bay, which led to its 'false' designation.

False Bay became significant in the early 19th century when the British established a naval base on Simon's Bay. This bay offered more sheltered waters than Table Bay, making it a safe harbor during stormy winters. The town and bay were vital for resupplying and repairing ships, and the area became increasingly fortified to secure this strategic asset against potential threats.

Today, False Bay is known for its stunning scenery and diverse marine life. The warm waters of the bay attract a variety of sea creatures, including great white sharks, making it a notable location for shark cage diving. False Bay is also historically significant, with remnants of naval fortifications and shipwrecks along its shores.

Blueback Charts

Blueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century. Bluebacks, as they came to be called, were privately published large-format nautical charts known for their distinctive blue paper backing. The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper traditionally used by publishers to warp unbound pamphlets, was adopted as a practical way to reinforce the low-quality paper used by private chart publishers in an effort to cut costs. The earliest known blueback charts include a 1760 chart issued by Mount and Page, and a 1787 chart issued by Robert Sayer. The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade. Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chartmakers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chartmakers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th century when government-subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey began issuing superior charts on high-quality paper that did not require reinforcement.

Publication History and Census

Norie originally issued this chart in 1819. It was engraved by John Stephenson. The present example features updates to 1827. Another newly engraved edition was introduced in 1832. This chart is extremely rare, with only one other example known (previously sold by Geographicus), that being in the 1860 state of the 1832 second edition. This is the only known example of any state of the 1819 first edition.