Art

Attractive sea chart of Harwich and surrounding coastline, north to right of map, soundings, rhumb lines. Decorated dedicatory cartouche- to Samuel Pepys- with cherubs, fish and shells, and scale in English miles below, with a sketch of a sea battle to left of cartouche. Captain Greenvile Collins was an outstanding naval officer who became 'Hydrographer to the King' before the Coasting Pilot was published. The Coasting Pilot was the result of the first systematic survey of British coastal waters. It took eight years to complete. The charts are notable for both their accuracy and their charm. Published in the 'Great Britain Coasting Pilot'. Size: 565 x 440 mm. Copper engraving. Later colour. Expert repairs to margins, wormhole on top margin. Very good condition.