1808 Direccion Hidrograficos Plan of Mobile Bay, Alabama

MobileBay-direccionhidrograficos-1808
$850.00
Plano de la Bahía de Movila Situado el Fuerte del mismo nombre en la latitud N. de 30º 36'' 30. y longitud de 81º 44' 00'' al O. del meridiano de Cádiz.
Plano de la Bahía de Movila Situado el Fuerte del mismo nombre en la latitud N. de 30º 36'' 30. y longitud de 81º 44' 00'' al O. del meridiano de Cádiz.
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1808 Direccion Hidrograficos Plan of Mobile Bay, Alabama

MobileBay-direccionhidrograficos-1808

Extremely rare early 19th century Spanish scientific mapping of Mobile Bay.

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Title

Plano de la Bahía de Movila Situado el Fuerte del mismo nombre en la latitud N. de 30º 36'' 30. y longitud de 81º 44' 00'' al O. del meridiano de Cádiz.
  1809 (undated)    7.5 x 11 in (19.05 x 27.94 cm)     1 : 226750

Description

A stunning and rare 1809 map of Mobile Bay, Alabama by the Spanish maritime cartographic agency, La Dirección Hidrográfica. Oriented to the west, this map covers all of Mobile Bay from the French city of Mobile to the entrance to the Bay and from Dauphin Island to Oyster Bay. The map identifies lights at the entrance to the Bay and provides depth soundings throughout. There is some inland detail, particularly along the river systems that drain into the Bay.

This map was published in 1809 by La Dirección Hidrográfica as part of the magnificent four part Portulano de la America Setentrional. The cartography is based upon earlier Spanish and French exploration of the Bay. This map is very rare and one of the earliest high quality scientific mappings of Mobile Bay.

Cartographer

La Dirección Hidrográfica (1797-1908) was a Spanish governmental organization dedicated to preparing, compiling, and publishing nautical charts. Its history is closely linked to the Depósito Hidrográfico. After the close of the Casa de Contratación in 1790 there was an acute need for a place to store, publish, and organize Spanish sea charts, especially new discoveries associated with the work of explorers as Jorge Juan (1713-1773), Antonio de Ulloa (1716-1795) and Vicente Tofiño of San Miguel (1732-1795). The Dirección Hidrográfica was founded by Antonio Valdés and Fernandez Bazan. The office was originally located on Calle Ballesta, but relocated to 36 Alcala, both in Madrid. After 1908 the Dirección was subsumed into other governmental agencies.

Source

Portulano de la America Setentrional (Madrid: Dirección Hidrográfica), 1809.    

Condition

Very good. Light foxing.

References

OCLC 733637289.