Depot de la Marine
1827

Northern Aegean Archipelago

Carte Reduite de la Partie Septentrionale de l'Archipel redigee d'apres les travaux executes, dan les annees 1818 et 1819 par M. Gauttier Capitaine de Vaisseau Seconde par M. Benoist Ingenieur Hydrographe de la Marine…

DESCRIPTION: Antique nautical chart of the coast and the islands of the northern Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, including Constantinople, Turkey (modern Istanbul). Attractive old engraved chart documenting tracks of the exploration of that area. Extensive fine hachuring of coastal mountains, some soundings, and no interior details. At bottom of the inset 'avertissment' is found a legend dating each of the map's tracks to the year in which that exploration was conducted and identifying the abbreviations used by the authors for representing the composition of the sea bottom.

Geographical features covered by this antique chart include these locations in Greece and Turkey: Gulf of Corinth, Negroponte, Euboea ( the second largest Greek Island after Crete ), Skyros, Skiatos, Gulf of Salonica, the Dardanelles, Istanbul, Tenedos ( Bozcada ), Lemnos, Gulf of Smryne, Smyrne ( Smyrna ), Samos and much more.

An advertisement at right states that the chart is the result of hydrographic and geodesic work on land and aboard the gabare 'la Chevrette' during the years 1818 and 1819. A 'gabare' is a French term for a three masted vessel of between 100 and 450 tons, typically used as a cargo carrier. Their heavy construction and capacity made them especially suitable for exploration and survey work.

Dated to 1827 at bottom of the oval cartouche. With the circular stamp of the Depot General de la Marine. Attribution reads: "Publiée par Ordre du Roi sous le Ministère de Son Excellence M. le Comte Chabrol de Crousol. Dépôt Générale de la Marine" Price when issued: two Francs.The Depot de la Marine was established in 1720 under the French Ministry of the Navy to collect, preserve, and publish nautical charts, sailing directions, and maritime intelligence for the French naval service. Its purpose was both archival and practical: to centralize geographic knowledge gathered from voyages, surveys, and colonial administration, and to convert that information into standardized charts for navigation. Over the eighteenth century the Depot became the principal hydrographic authority of France, issuing engraved sea charts that incorporated data from naval expeditions, colonial outposts, and scientific voyages.

Following the French Revolution, the institution was reorganized and its chart production expanded, particularly during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as global maritime competition intensified. The Depot de la Marine supervised official surveys, revised earlier charts, and maintained copperplates for continued reissue as coastal knowledge improved. In 1886 it was formally reorganized as the Service hydrographique de la Marine, the predecessor of today’s French hydrographic office. Charts bearing the Depot imprint remain important records of French naval activity, colonial expansion, and the technical development of European hydrography.

CREATOR: Depot de la Marine

PUBLICATION DATE: 1827

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: Greece

BODY OF WATER: Aegean Sea

CONDITION: Very Good Rolled chart on strong wove paper. In fine condition with no blemishes whatsoever except rough edges. Wide margins.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER: Caplin

SIZE: 36 " x 24 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 1403

PRICE: $1750

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