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1894 Norie / Wilson Blueback Chart of St. George's Channel and the English Channel
StGeorgesEnglishChannel-noriewilson-1894$500.00
Title
A Chart of the Approaches to the St. George's and English Channels showing the navigation from 47°43 N. Lat. and 11°28 W. Long. to Bristol, Liverpool, and Dublin, Falmouth and Plymouth; Part of the North Coast of France, and the South and West Coasts of Ireland to Cork and Galway.
1894 (dated) 48.75 x 42.5 in (123.825 x 107.95 cm) 1 : 520000
1894 (dated) 48.75 x 42.5 in (123.825 x 107.95 cm) 1 : 520000
Description
An unrecorded blueback nautical chart / map of St. George's Channel and the western portion of the English Channel, published by Norie and Wilson in 1894.
Seven insets at top provide charts of the harbors of Dublin, Cork, Liverpool, and other ports. Illustrations over the land portion of Cornwall display local lights and lighthouses, including the Eddystone Lighthouse; the one seen here was the third of four lighthouses at that location, dating back to 1698, with the original likely being the first ever offshore lighthouse. Similarly, two drawings over the land portion of Brittany depict coastal cliffs. Aside from its size and stunning level of detail, this chart is notable for its ornate title typography.
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 their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement.
A Closer Look
This impressive chart covers the coasts of much of Ireland, southwestern England, and northwestern France, focusing on the waters in between. Soundings appear throughout, even in deep waters of the open ocean, reflecting advances in hydrography in the late 19th century. Notes on bottoms are likewise exhaustive, as are the notation of hazards, shoals, currents, tides, lighthouses, and other features. The circumference of light given off by lanterns and lighthouses is indicated, along with the color and pattern of each light. Compasses throughout highlight magnetic variations from true north.Seven insets at top provide charts of the harbors of Dublin, Cork, Liverpool, and other ports. Illustrations over the land portion of Cornwall display local lights and lighthouses, including the Eddystone Lighthouse; the one seen here was the third of four lighthouses at that location, dating back to 1698, with the original likely being the first ever offshore lighthouse. Similarly, two drawings over the land portion of Brittany depict coastal cliffs. Aside from its size and stunning level of detail, this chart is notable for its ornate title typography.
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 wrap 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. That being said, not all blueback charts are literally backed with blue paper. 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 their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement.
Publication History and Census
This chart was published by Norie and Wilson in London in 1894. We are unable to locate any examples in institutional collections and the chart has no known history on the market.CartographerS
John William Norie (June 3, 1772 - December 24, 1843) was a British teacher of navigation, hydrographer, chart maker, and publisher of maritime manuals active in London, England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Norie was born in Wapping, London, an area long associated with the maritime sciences. Norie's career as a chart maker commenced under the tutelage of William Heather, a prominent purveyor and publisher of nautical charts, pilot books, and navigational tools who took over the firm of Mount and Page in 1765. Heather and Norie were likely acquainted through John Hamilton Moore, another important chart maker with whom both seem to have been associated early in their careers. Heather hired Norie to teach basic navigation at his shop at 157 Leadenhall Street. Under Heather Norie also distinguished himself as a draftsman, completing many of the early charts associated with the Heather firm. When Heather died in 1812 John Norie partnered with George Wilson, a moneyed 'man about town' with little experience in the maritime trades, to acquire the map and chart business at 9500 British Pounds. It proved a good deal for Norie, who retained all copyright privileges and drew 1/4 quarter share of business profits, as well an impressive quarterly salary and, for doing all of the work, 1/3rd of Wilson's share. The firm, referred to as the 'Naval Warehouse' quickly acquired a reputation for quality navigational materials and became a favorite of merchant seamen. It was even referenced in Charles Dickens' classic novel Dombey and Son. In 1819, Norie and Wilson acquired the failing chart business of David Steel, which significantly increased the size, though not quality, of their chart catalogue. With the rise of the British Admiralty and its own maritime chart productions, the business of "Chart Purveyor" in London dramatically changed. Admiralty charts and pilot books, designed for military use, were offered through established intermediaries, like Norie, at bargain prices. Most chart makers of the period found it profitable to use the highly technical Admiralty charts to update their own more decorative vernacular charts. For a brief time this practice proved exceptionally profitable but eventually began to draw criticism. Nonetheless, Norie retired to Edinburgh in 1840 and died a wealthy man in 1843. In 1840 the business passed to a nephew of George Wilson, Charles Wilson, who renamed the firm "Norie & Wilson". William Heather Norie, J. W. Norie's own son, produced few charts, instead pursuing a career in the legal field. Norie & Wilson merged with James Imray's prosperous chart business in 1899, becoming Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson, a profitable concern that remains active in the maritime charting industry. More by this mapmaker...
Charles Wilson (1807 - May 16, 1882) was a British-Indian publisher of nautical charts and maps based in London, England. Born in Lucknow, India, Wilson was the son Lieutenant-Colonel William Wilson and his wife Hoosainee Begum, an Indian princess, who was the daughter of the Nizam of Ashrafabad. Wilson was educated in England and worked in the wine trade before joining the Norie firm in 1838. Norie had already partnered with another Wilson, George, who was a nephew to Charles. When Norie retired in 1840, Charles Wilson took over the firm publishing as 'Charles Wilson (Late J.W. Noire and Wilson)'. He married Jane Arabella Bingle on July 1, 1846. Wilson died in 1882 passing the firm on to his sons, George and William Wilson. The brothers merged the firm with that of J. Imray and Sons in 1899 and, as Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd., they continue to publish to the present day. Learn More...
Condition
Very good. Mounted on linen. Some soiling on edges.