A General Chart For the purpose of pricking off a Ship's Track from England, &c. Southward, and round the World.: Rare prick chart of the world Drawn by J.S. Hobbs, F.R.G.S. Hydrographer. 1861.
by HEATHER, William [and], J[ames] W[illiam] NORIE
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London,: Published by Charles Wilson (late J.W. Norie & Wilson) No.157 Leadenhall Street,, 1877.. 820 by 1610mm (32.25 by 63.5 inches).. Engraved chart, on five sheets joined and backed on linen, edged in linen, a few water stains to far right. Rare chart of the world published for use aboard merchant and passenger shipping, in order to mark a ships track. With ships constantly sailing back and forth between Britain and Asia, it was essential to ensure smooth and efficient passages. To this end in the 1790s William Heather, hydrographer to the East India Company, began publishing blank charts for use by East India Company shipping, which they could use as a template to plot their tracks through the sea. The charts would continue to be published by Heather, and his successor's Norie and Wilson, through much of the nineteenth century. The present example identifies ports and harbours at which the ships might wish to stop off, as well as various shoals, reefs, and ice that could prove to be dangerous obstacles for the unwary seaman; in addition are marked tracks of Great Circle sailing. The chart marks two ships tracks in red. The first plots a route from Portsmouth to Launceston, Tasmania, via the newly opened Suez Canal. Stops along the way include: Gibraltar; Suez; Aden; Port Galle, Sri Lanka; Albany; Adelaide; and Melbourne. The second track plots the route from London via Plymouth to just south of the Canary Islands. As noted below the title, the map was available in separate sheets. A navigator could buy the entire world set or just a section with specific routes/areas, depending on their needs. This set has been joined and would fold neatly, making it easy to carry on long voyages. A note below the title states: "GREAT CIRCLE SAILING and COMPOSITE TRACKS On this Chart the Great Circle and Composite Tracks are laid down to those parts where such sailing is most practicable; against the Monsoons it is not available, excepting perhaps Steamers; & near to the Equator it becomes as Plane Sailing on the Mercator Chart." A great circle track indicates the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, and therefore the most direct route. A composite, or modified great-circle, track consists of an initial great-circle track from the point of departure with its vertex on a limiting parallel of latitude. Prick Charts The first prick charts were published for the East India Company by William Heather (c1766-1812) in the mid 1790s, and most likely drawn by his apprentice William Norie (1772 1843). Norie began his career working with William Heather, who ran the Naval Academy and Naval Warehouse in Leadenhall Street from 1795, which sold navigational instruments, charts, and books on navigation. Norie took over the Naval Warehouse after Heather's retirement and founded the company J.W. Norie and Company in 1813. After Norie's death the company became Norie and Wilson, then in 1903 Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson. John Statton Hobbs, was a hydrographer and chartmaker, who produced charts for Charles Wilson successor to William Norie. Despite the popularity of Norie's charts aboard nineteenth century British vessels, the present chart is extremely rare. See NLA MAP RM 2651 for 1859 edition.
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Details
- Seller
- Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd (GB)
- Seller's Inventory #
- 17662
- Title
- A General Chart For the purpose of pricking off a Ship's Track from England, &c. Southward, and round the World.
- Author
- HEATHER, William [and], J[ames] W[illiam] NORIE
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Published by Charles Wilson (late J.W. Norie & Wilson) No.157 Leadenhall Street,
- Place of Publication
- London,
- Date Published
- 1877.
- Size
- 820 by 1610mm (32.25 by 63.5 inc
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- Heather, Norie, East India Company, voyages, chart, antique map, India, Australia, New Zealand, rare map
- Product_type
- Maps
Terms of Sale
Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Any item may be returned if you are not happy with it providing we are notified within 7 days of your receiving it. This does not affect any statutory rights you may have under UK or EU law for returning the item outside this period. All we ask is that you return the item(s) by the same or similar method to that in which they were sent to you. Your postage costs and any payment already received will be refunded immediately on our receipt of the items in the same condition as you received them.
About the Seller
Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Biblio member since 2018
London
About Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Daniel Crouch Rare Books is specialist dealer in antique atlases, maps, plans, sea charts and voyages dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Our carefully selected stock also includes a number of fine prints and globes, and a selection of cartographic reference books.Our particular passions include rare atlases, wall maps, and separately published maps and charts. We strive to acquire unusual and quirky maps that are in fine condition. We are members of the following trade associations: The Antiquarian Bookseller's Association (ABA); The British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA); Confédération Internationale des Négociantes en Oeuvres d'Art (CINOA); The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB); The Society of London Art Dealers (SLAD); and The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF). Daniel and Nick are also both members of The Company of Art Scholars, Dealers, and Collectors.