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1898 Charaire Pictorial Map of the Atlantic (Spanish-American War)
GuerreHispanoAmericain-charaire-1898-2$750.00
Title
Conflit Hispano Americain Carte du Théâtre de la Guerre Dressée Spécialement pour les lecteurs de La Dépêche.
1898 (undated) 20.75 x 28.5 in (52.705 x 72.39 cm)
1898 (undated) 20.75 x 28.5 in (52.705 x 72.39 cm)
Description
This is an 1898 Charaire map of the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Spain published during the Spanish-American War. The view underscores French and general European curiosity (and concern) over the conflict. Spain's humiliating defeat in a matter of months marked an end to hundreds of years of Spanish empire and transformed the United States from an isolationist state into an imperial power.
A Closer Look
Spanish and American warships dominate the Atlantic, each identified by type and affiliation. Many of the ships are imposing, but none more than the battleship Iowa, which occupies the Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana to Florida. Cities and towns fill Cuba, but only major cities are noted in the United States, Spain, and Portugal. Vignettes of the American army and navy appear outside the left border and are juxtaposed with illustrations of the Spanish army and navy outside the right border (along with a vignette of Cuban guerillas). Views of Cuban cities and sites occupy the corners and detail Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Morro Castle, and Matanzas. Information below the border provides an overview of Cuba and its geography.The Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War was fought between Spain and the United States between April 21, 1898, and August 13, 1898. The war started after the USS Maine suffered a massive explosion and sank in Havana Harbor. Tensions had been rising between the two countries for some time, with the U.S. showing support for Cuban independence while Spain claimed Cuba as a Spanish province. The Spanish were quickly outclassed and outnumbered by U.S. forces and surrendered after minimal conflict. After the fighting ended, the U.S. received the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba as U.S. protectorates.Publication History and Census
This map was engraved and printed by the Charaire firm in Sceaux, France, and published for the readers of La Dépêche in 1898. We note two cataloged examples which are part of the collections at the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine and the David Rumsey Map Collection. It is not cataloged in OCLC.CartographerS
The Imprimerie Charaire (1872 - 1972) was a printing firm in Sceaux, France, and was active for about a century. Bought on August 1, 1872, by Michel Charaire (March 8, 1818 - 1907), the Imprimerie Charaire became the largest employ in Sceaux (then a town of 5,000 inhabitants south of Paris). Charaire's son Émile (1843 - 1902) worked alongside his father, helping the printing firm succeed. By 1900, it was the ninth-largest printing house in France by number of publications. The Charaires bought modern rotating printing presses which allowed them to increase their production to nearly 80,000 sheets a day. The Charaires insisted on treating their employees well (although they only paid them 4.35 Francs a day while a comparable job in Paris might pay as much as ten francs a day). The Charaires also improved life around town and treated their employees well. During their time as the owners of the print shop, the Charaire's workers on went on strike once and it lasted only three hours. The Sociéte Parisienne d'édition, founded by the Offenstadt brothers, bought the Imprimerie Charaire in 1923. The Offenstadt family had the firm taken from them during World War II due to their Jewish heritage and it published several pro-Hitler pieces during the Occupation. After the Liberation, it is unclear of the Offenstadt family regained the firm or not. The printing house was absorbed by the Ventillard publishing house at the end of the 1960s and gradually declined until it was finally closed in 1972. More by this mapmaker...
La Dépêche du Midi (October 2, 1870 - Present) is a regional French daily newspaper circulated in southeastern France. The newspaper first appeared under the title La Dépêche and its first issue was published on October 2, 1870. Famous French politicians Jean Jaurès and Georges Clemenceau wrote for La Dépêche early in their careers. La Dépêche soon became associated with the radical-socialist left wing of French politics, and by the beginning of the twentieth century, French Catholic bishops began to see reading the paper as a 'grave sin.' The paper continued publishing throughout the twentieth century. However, since La Dépêche was operated by collaborationists during World War II, it was banned after the Liberation of France. It reemerged with the name La Dépêche du Midi in 1947. Nonetheless, La Dépêche again took firm radical left and anticommunist positions. Learn More...
Condition
Very good. Newsprint. Deckled edges. Closed margin tears professionally repaired on verso. Small areas of loss to edge. Some wear along original fold lines. Some small areas of loss along original fold lines.
References
University of Southern Maine, Osher Map Library OML-1898-87. Rumsey 13520.000.