1913 British Admiralty Blueback Chart of the West Indies and Caribbean

An impressive large scale 1913 blueback chart of the West Indies issued by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office. The map covers from The Yucatan Peninsula to the Windward Islands (Lesser Antilles) and from Cuba to the Spanish Main, including all of Lake Maracaibo. The map identifies shoals, reefs, and other undersea dangers with note providing a wealth of practical information for the mariner. There are countless depth soundings in fathoms throughout. Light houses and light boats are highlighted in red and yellow. Inland there is limited topographical detail.

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 their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement.

Publication History and Census

The map is based upon surveys completed in 1876, but has been updated and revised to 1913. Published by the Admiralty on the 22nd of July, 1913 under the superintendents of Rear Admiral H. E. Purey, Hydrographer. The map was engraved and printed by Davis and Company. Sold by J. D. Potter of 145 Minories, Agent for the sale of Admiralty Charts.