Description
Rare two-sheet blue-back sea chart of the Atlantic and Eastern part of North America., published by Gerard Van Keulen. The map extends from the latitude of Newfoundland and the English Channel in the north to the Equator in the south.
In North America, most of the Great Lakes are shown and a large lake (Apalache Lac) in South Carolina. Florida is presented in a triangular shape.
Florida is shown in a triangular model, with large islands forming the tip and numerous soundings along the coast. The coasts of Britain, France, Spain, and western Africa are shown in the eastern hemisphere.
The chart was engraved by Luggert van Anse, active 1690-1716. From: Nieuwe groote lightende Zee-Fakkel, part IV, editions from 1728 to 1744 and an untitled atlas of 21 charts, attributed to Gerard van Keulen.
The chart is one of the new larger format sea charts added to the Zee-Fakkel first published in 1728.
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Van Keulen dynasties. [+]
Blueback chartsBlueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century and are known for their distinctive blue paper backing.
The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper was a practical way to reinforce the chart. Publishers who published blueback charts are Mount and Page, Robert Sayer, John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others.
Bluebacks became so popular that chart makers outside of England, including America, Netherlands, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Russia, and Spain produced them until the late 19th century.
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Blue-back charts [+]