The Red Sea: The beautiful maps of the Red Sea ... will ever remain permanent monuments of Indian Naval Science" surveyed by Captn. T. Elwon, Comr. R. Moresby and Lieuts. H.N. Pinching and T.G. Carless, Indian Navy. Additional Soundings By Captain W.J.S. Pullen... H.M
by MORESBY, Commander R[obert]; and CARLESS, Lieutenant T. G. ELWON, T. Captain; and PINCHING, Lieutenant H. N
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London,: The Admiralty,, 1857 (additions to 1861).. 995 by 665mm. (39.25 by 26.25 inches).. Engraved chart, inset view of Port Suakin, lighthouses marked in yellow, few nicks and tears to margin, skilfully repaired, not affecting image. This rare chart of the Red Sea is the result of the perilous surveying voyages undertaken by the sailors of the Indian Navy. In order to chart the dangerous waters of the Red Sea, a two-ship hydrographic expedition was launched under Captain Thomas Elwon and Commander Robert Moresby in 1829. Over the course of the following three years, the teams aboard the Palinurus and Benares surveyed the coastline and waters to ensure that the route from Europe to the East Indies was viable for new steam vessels. The diaries kept by crew members offer direct insight into their experiences in the Red Sea. As well as geographical and navigatory details, such as anchorages, fuel supplies and obstacles, these journals tell of the diseases that plagued both ships. One of the principal assistants in the task, Lieutenant Pinching, actually died in the sweltering African climate and was buried on the land off of the Gulf of Aden, shown in the lower right corner of the chart. More happily, Moresby's own diary celebrates the abundance of the mainland, where "provisions were plentiful and goodoranges, pears, apples, plums in season. And there were plenty of fine cabbages!". Also recorded are the techniques used in the surveying itself, which included using local boats and pilots to chart dangerous coastal areas, and on one occasion, Moresby is said to have sprung up the rigging to confirm that a distant mass was actually a reef. The charts produced from this surveying expedition proved of great importance throughout the rest of the nineteenth century, to such an extent that in his work, 'First Footsteps in East Africa', the explorer Richard Burton, states that they "will ever remain permanent monuments of Indian Naval Science, and the daring of its officers and men". The present chart shows depth with isolines and soundings, relief with hachures and spot heights, and identifies key features such as lighthouses and harbours. Port Suakin is shown in particular detail on an inset map because of its importance as a British colonial base; it is from Suakin that Kitchener led a contingent of the Egyptian Army in the 1880s. Although the chart is, in general, highly accurate, the reef of El Akhawin in the Northern part of the Sea is surprisingly misplaced, and its position was not correctly established for several decades. The imprint in the lower right corner identifies the engraving of this chart as the work of John and Charles Walker. Walker Cartographers had been responsible for naval charts since the British Hydrographic Office was established in the late eighteenth century, and subsequently produced numerous charts of the colonies. Rare Burton, 'First footsteps in East Africa or an exploration of Harar;', (1894); Moresby, 'A Record of Life and Service in the British Navy for a Hundred Years', (Murray, London 1909); Searight, 'The Charting of the Red Sea', (History Today, 2003); Wellsted, 'Travels in Arabia', (Murray, London 1838).
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 14360
- Title
- The Red Sea
- Author
- MORESBY, Commander R[obert]; and CARLESS, Lieutenant T. G. ELWON, T. Captain; and PINCHING, Lieutenant H. N
- Book Condition
- Used
- Publisher
- The Admiralty,
- Place of Publication
- London,
- Date Published
- 1857 (additions to 1861).
- Keywords
- Red Sea, Admiralty Chart,
- Product_type
- Maps
- Size
- 995 by 665mm. (39.25 by 26.25 inches).
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.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes: