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- Bibliographical Notes on Nineteenth Century British Admiralty Charts
Bibliographical Notes on Nineteenth Century British Admiralty Charts
- By Campbell, Tony
- Published 1 March 1984
- Maps
- Unrated
Campbell, Tony
Tony Campbell was a map dealer (Francis Edwards, later Weinreb & Douwma/Robert Douwma Ltd - 1964-84), then in the British Library Map Library (Map Librarian 1987-2001). He is Chairman of Imago Mundi Ltd, in which role he coordinates the International Conferences on the History of Cartography.
Since 1997 he has maintained the 'Map History' gateway site. Author of Early Maps (1981), The Earliest Printed Maps, 1472-1500 (1987), the chapter on Portolan Charts in Volume 1 of The History of Cartography (1987), and numerous articles.
www.maphistory.info
by Andrew David and Tony Campbell
In the December issue we included a general introduction to the history of British Admiralty charting by Tony Campbell. Here, he and Lieut-Commander Andrew David, RN of the Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, Taunton plot a careful course through the bibliographical confusion surrounding the engraved charts. Armed with these comments on various aspects of their publication, particularly that of date, collectors and librarians should have a better understanding of the charts already in their possession or of those offered to them.
ADMIRALTY CHARTS OFTEN remain in print for many years after the initial date of publication, which is indicated in the imprint outside the bottom border. To determine the actual date (or the most likely period) of printing, a number of factors have to be taken into account. The notes that follow are intended to help in the understanding and dating of Admiralty charts. Except, however, where particular changes can be precisely pinpointed by reference to records in the Hydrographic Department at Taunton, the dates attached to them should be considered as no more than approximate. It is also likely that there were delays in incorporating some of these innovations onto the numerous copper plates involved.
Many of the dating criteria depend on observed differences to the constantly changing corpus of Admiralty charts. By the end of the nineteenth century this involved some 3,000 sheets, and it is not surprising that the herculean labour of making a systematic examination of all the widely scattered surviving charts remains to be attempted. Corrections and additions to these notes will be welcomed.
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COPYRIGHT March 1984 The Map Collector, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
In the December issue we included a general introduction to the history of British Admiralty charting by Tony Campbell. Here, he and Lieut-Commander Andrew David, RN of the Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, Taunton plot a careful course through the bibliographical confusion surrounding the engraved charts. Armed with these comments on various aspects of their publication, particularly that of date, collectors and librarians should have a better understanding of the charts already in their possession or of those offered to them.
ADMIRALTY CHARTS OFTEN remain in print for many years after the initial date of publication, which is indicated in the imprint outside the bottom border. To determine the actual date (or the most likely period) of printing, a number of factors have to be taken into account. The notes that follow are intended to help in the understanding and dating of Admiralty charts. Except, however, where particular changes can be precisely pinpointed by reference to records in the Hydrographic Department at Taunton, the dates attached to them should be considered as no more than approximate. It is also likely that there were delays in incorporating some of these innovations onto the numerous copper plates involved.
Many of the dating criteria depend on observed differences to the constantly changing corpus of Admiralty charts. By the end of the nineteenth century this involved some 3,000 sheets, and it is not surprising that the herculean labour of making a systematic examination of all the widely scattered surviving charts remains to be attempted. Corrections and additions to these notes will be welcomed.
Read Full Article >>
[Acrobat Reader required]
COPYRIGHT March 1984 The Map Collector, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
