River Plate.

1872 Imray Nautical Map of Rio de la Plata, Buenos Aires Region

Publication Date: 1872

About this Item

Very good. Some soiling in margins. Although stylistically a 'blueback', this map does not have a blue blacking. Size 34.5 x 50.5 Inches. This is an 1872 James Imray blueback nautical map of the Rio de la Plata in South America. It provides a wealth of useful information for mariners seeking to navigate these waters, including those leading to Buenos Aires. A Closer Look A highly detailed chart, this example contains hand-written annotations, evidence of having been used on board a ship. Both Montevideo and Buenos Aires are labeled, along with numerous other points along the coastline, including mountains and hills identifiable at sea. Depth sounding populate the bulk of the chart along with several banks, beacons, lighthouses, rocks, and hazards. Five different compass roses are included with magnetic variations. Insets at top-right include the harbor of Montevideo, Maldonado Bay, and Lobos Island, while at bottom-left insets of Buenos Aires and Colonia appear. Blueback Charts Blueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century. Bluebacks, as they came to be called, were privately published large format nautical charts known for their distinctive blue paper backing. The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper traditionally used by publishers to wrap unbound pamphlets, was adopted as a practical way to reinforce the low-quality paper used by private chart publishers in an effort to cut costs. The earliest known blueback charts include a 1760 chart issued by Mount and Page, and a 1787 chart issued by Robert Sayer. The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade. Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chart makers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chart makers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th century, when government subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey began issuing their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement. Publication History and Census This chart was published by James Imray and Son in 1872. There is no record of the present edition in institutional collections, and it is scarce to the market. Earlier editions exist from 1856 (previously sold by us) and 1865 (OCLC 557920420). Regardless of edition, the chart is quite rare. References: OCLC 557920420 (1865 edition).

Seller Inventory # RiodeLaPlata-imray-1872

Bibliographic Details

• Title: River Plate.
• Publication Date: 1872
• Seller catalogs:
  • SOUTH-AMERICA