Plantations

The Plantations page on RareCharts.com is the perfect place to explore the culture and geography of some of America’s most iconic plantations. From John Player & Sons' 1938 Tobacco Advertising World Map to George Washington's Birthplace Survey Map from 1879, we have a collection of rare and antique maps, engravings, and blueprints that tell the story of these iconic sites. Our collection includes an unrecorded blueprint of Cedar Grove Plantation in St. Paul, South Carolina from 1950 as well as a rare blueprint cadastral plat map of Harwood Settlement in Volusia County, Florida from 1894. We also have an amazing Brilliant Point & College Point Mississippi River Survey Chart from 1894. These artifacts provide insight into the history of plantation life in America and offer a glimpse into the politics, culture, geography and influences that shaped this important part of our nation’s history. Whether you are looking for rare maps or engravings depicting plantations or want to learn more about this era, you can find it here at RareCharts.com!


 Thumbnail CreatorDateTitle / Author / Date / LocationPrice  Description
5312Plan of the subdivision of Harwood Volusia County FloridaDetailsRogers, P. D.1888
Antique cyanotype cadastral map Harwood Volusia County Florida Old Kings Road
Rogers, P. D.
1888
LOC:53
$1,200.00Rogers--P--D-Antique-cyanotype-cadastral-map-Harwood-Volusia-County-Florida-Old-Kings-RoadRare early cyanotype (blueprint) cadastral plat map of the subdivision of <b>Harwood</b> in Volusia County, Florida (near Bulow Creek State Park), bounded to the west by the <b>Old King's Road</b>. Only known cadastral map that locates the failed "Harwood" settlement. The plat is the oldest of two known reference sources for the location of the Old King's Road in Volusia County. A valuable historic reference, the map shows land use: marsh, hammocks, islands, and groves. <br></br> The Harwood settlement was planned by orange grower Norman B. Harwood who in 1880 purchased 4,000 acres in Volusia County, including the Ormond Plantation "Damietta" [1]. The Harwood settlement was a failure. Deeply in debt, Norman Harwood died in May, 1885.</b> <br></br> During the second Spanish occupation of Florida, Spain granted large tracts of land in the Tomoka basin to settlers as an inducement to move to the region. These settlers included the Ormonds, Bulows [2], McHardys [3], and Dummitts [4]. <br></br> Surveyed in 1888 by Civil Engineer P. D. Rogers of Daytona, Florida. North oriented at right. Manuscript notations. <br></br> The plat shows the tomb of James Ormond II who died September 30, 1829 (now Ormond Tomb State Park). Includes an inset context map of the Florida coast from Jacksonville to Mosquito Inlet with the St. Johns River. The context map shows the settlement of Harwood prominently near the coast just north of Ormond, Fla. <br></br> <b>NOTES:</b><br> [1] The landmark Fairchild Oak and the Ormond Tomb (see plat) are both located on land shown on this plat. The Spanish granted sea captain James Ormond 2,000 acres in 1807.<br> [2] Bulow Creek bounds the property to the northeast alongside a now lost "Atlantic Avenue".<br> [3] Robert Mc Hardy, a surveyor, received a Spanish grant of 1,100 acres in 1808. <br> [4] Dummitt Plantation, directly south of this plat, was the site of the first steam-powered sugar mill in the area.
67571892 nautical chart of the entrance to Pensacola Harbor, Florida.DetailsU.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey1892
Scarce original antique nautical chart of Pensacola, Florida
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
1892
LOC:
$2,500.00U-S--Coast-and-Geodetic-SurveyScarce-original-antique-nautical-chart-of-Pensacola--FloridaQuite scarce original nautical chart of the entrance to Pensacola Harbor, Florida. The map was first published by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (U.S.C.G.S.) in 1859 but this updated edition dates from May, 1892. The map shows Big Lagoon, ruins of Fort McRee, Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, Woolsey, Warrington, and English Navy Cove. Pensacola is depicted laid out in a grid pattern while the entire tip of Fairpoint Peninsula including Gulf Breeze is shown forested as "United States Live Oak Plantations". <br><br> Rare. Over the last decade a resurgent interest in nautical charts and in Floridiana has made this chart increasingly difficult to obtain. 31" x 25" inside the neatlines. <br><br> Price of this chart when issued was 25 cents. Electrotype Copy No. 5. (1) U.S.C.G.S. Chart No. 490. <br><br> (1) Electrotyping is a reprographic printmaking method that was especially important in the 19th century, as it allowed for high-quality, high-volume reproduction of texts and images. Electrotype printing involves creating a metal plate via electroplating for printing. The process starts by forming a mold of the original work with a soft material like wax. This mold is dusted with graphite powder for conductivity, then submerged in a copper sulfate solution. An electric current is applied, causing copper ions to deposit onto the mold. The process continues until a sufficient copper layer forms. The new copper shell or 'electrotype' is separated from the mold and its back is filled with a type metal like lead for strength. <br><br> After cooling, the electrotype is finished and trimmed for use. It is inked and pressed against paper to produce prints of the original plate. This process was significant in the 19th century for high-quality, high-volume reproduction.
704Antique Chart of Mississppi River near St. James, LouisianaDetailsMississippi River Commission1894
The Mississppi River near St. James, Louisiana
Mississippi River Commission
1894
LOC:0
$450.00Mississippi-River-CommissionThe-Mississppi-River-near-St--James--LouisianaLarge, very scarce, rolled survey chart or map of the Brilliant Point and College Point portions of the Mississippi River from 1894. Coverage on this antique map stretches across St. James Parish and documents numerous plantations, cultivated fields, and individual land holdings, including many with French surnames: Bonnecaze, Dernier, Bourgeois, Braud, Fabre, and Plaisance. <br></br> An inset index chart identifies the area as belonging to the Brilliant Point and College Point stretches of the Mississippi River, but may be more familiar as that portion of the river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans that includes the area near St. James, Louisiana and Oak Alley Plantation. No copy of this chart or any from the series are currently known to be available for sale. <br></br> On the North bank of the Mississippi are 3 towns: College, Donnelson, Wilton, and Hester; a race track, Jefferson College, and Sacred Heart Convent, Numerous plantations are mapped including St. Belmont Plantation, Homestead Plantation, Oneida Plantation, Uncle Sam Plantation, Wilton Plantation, Helvetia Plantation, St. Rose Plantation, St. Michael Plantation. <br></br> On the river's South bank lies St. Emma and a settlement referred to as "Free Town". Identifed plantations on the South bank include Oak Alley Plantation, St. James Estate, Felicite Plantation, St Joseph Plantation, Home Place Plantation, Jefferson Plantation, Pikes Peak Plantation, Cabanocey Plantation, Rich Bend Plantation, Bonsecour Plantation, M.B.C. Plantation, St. Cecile Plantation, Sydney Plantation, La Pice Plantation, and St. Claire Plantation. <br></br> Photo lithograph produced by Julius Bien and Company. From a two volume set of 78 sheets produced by the Mississippi River Commission ca. 1896 . Detailed soundings from bank to bank at approximately 400 - 500 foot intervals. Railroads and numerous benchmarks are identified. Number 71.
6602Lindenkohl's map of Washington's birthplace in Virginia.DetailsLindenkohl, A.1897
Map of Washington's Birthplace by Coast and Geodetic Survey
Lindenkohl, A.
1897
LOC:1404
$300.00Lindenkohl--A-Map-of-Washington-s-Birthplace-by-Coast-and-Geodetic-SurveyFine map of Washington's birthplace published by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey based on a survey by Adolph Lindenkohl in 1879, but 1897. Photo-lithograph by Andrew B. Graham. Scarce, <b>only one copy of the survey map was located in WorldCat and no copies in the AMPR.</b> <br><br> George Washington was born in 1732 on Pope's Creek Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia. <br><br> Price when issued was 20 cents (upper left) but that price is crossed out and replaced in manuscript with "30". Note at bottom right: "Location of Monument and other data added in 1897." <br><br> Map # 3081. Scale 1/10,000
6705 World map "Tobacco" published by John Player and Sons, 1938DetailsJohn Player and Sons1938
Unrecorded thematic pictorial tobacco advertising map
John Player and Sons
1938
LOC:40
$1,000.00John-Player-and-SonsUnrecorded-thematic-pictorial-tobacco-advertising-mapFine unrecorded advertising world map "Tobacco" published by John Player and Sons (1) circa 1938 (2). The map shows graphically the sources where tobacco was grown as well as shipping routes for tobacco cargos to England. Inset tables for: the four methods of curing tobacco; and the United Kingdom's principal sources of supply of different types of tobacco. Sketches at top and bottom of the map show the various steps in the growth, shipment, and preparation of Player's various tobacco products including cigarettes. <br><br> Not found in WorldCat. No example or record of a sale of the Tobacco map is found online. <br><br>
5339Plat map of Cedar Grove Plantation,  St. Paul, South Carolina.DetailsSomberg, Seymour I.1950
Blueprint plat map of Cedar Grove Plantation St. Paul South Carolina
Somberg, Seymour I.
1950
LOC:1401
$900.00Somberg--Seymour-I-Blueprint-plat-map-of-Cedar-Grove-Plantation-St--Paul-South-CarolinaUnrecorded blueprint or cyanotype plat map of <b>Cedar Grove Plantation</b> or Smythe Plantation, <b>St. Paul / Summerton, South Carolina</b> in Clarendon County with Robert Adger Smythe (1871-1962) , Manager. The blueprint was created ca. 1950 and signed by Seymour. I. Samberg L.S. (Land Surveyor) with property lines taken from an earlier plat by Bushner and Rutledge dated May 30, 1914. North oriented to lower left. <br></br> Robert Adger Smythe was born in Charleston, S.C. in 1871 and graduated from the Citadel in 1890. He founded the Lambda Chapter fraternity at the Citadel. Smythe spent most of his business years in cotton brokerage in Atlanta. Robert Smythe did not live at Cedar Grove, but visited often, conducting his business through manager Joe. H. King. <br></br> The earliest record of Cedar Grove Plantation dates to 1796 when Jack Lawson laid out a plantation of 2,160 acres between Jack's Creek and Taw-Caw. In the mid-1800's the plantation had grown to over 5,000 acres. Nearby features on this plat map include Jack's Creek, Highway 15, Manning Turnpike, Lake Marion, Nelson's Ferry Road, and St. Paul. <br></br> Legend at bottom right includes the signature of Seymour Somberg. In 1953 Seymour I. Somberg was listed as President of Forestry Aids (forestry - surveying) in Manning, South Carolina. [1] <br></br> [1] Eller, Robert C. ed. Surveying and Mapping. Volume XIII, No. 1 January - March, 1953. p. 252. (Online)