this tradition toge ther in the text, views and hydrographic charts of his Spieghel der
Zeevaerdt. Translated in to English in 15 88, The Mariner's Mirrourwas the model fo r much
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ierry, "A Mapp ofAll the World .. . ";from [Composite Atlas], London, 1680. The late 17th-century 1rldview is revealed on this double hemisphere map (left, above). California is depicted as an islandpanish voyages had disproved that theory in the 1530s and '40s and earlier European maps had depicted ' to the mainland-and the Pacific coastal region is patriotically named New Albion, after Sir Francis idfall there ("Albion" was an ancient name for England). The Western Atlantic is pompously labeled "Sea <, Virginia, N. York, N. England, N. Scotland." The accompanying modern map ofthe world (above) fthe early cartographers had an in-depth awareness of many remote regions, while other portions show many ofwhich persistedfor generations in maps, even ifnot in practical knowledge among seafarers. (From rated World Atlas (Crescent Books, New York NY)) 1500s and 1600s, the English were dependent on foreign mapmakers, whose works were copied freely. :erry, derisively known in his own time as the ''English Sanson, "properly credits the French Royal r, Nicolas Sanson, whose map he has copied closely; despite these French origins, this "Englished" map now rinks the apparent size ofboth French and Spanish incursions into North America. These are the earliest iaps ofall parts ofthe worldpublished in Britain, and this is just one map from the largest single collection Berry maps known, made up of41 sheets. phatic and important dedication to Charles II in the cartouche honors the Restoration monarch who ~he Royal Society, encouraging the study of the practical application of the sciences, navigation and
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•erton, "A New & Correct Map of the Trading Part of the West Indies . .. " [North America];
'1741. The cartouche on this map records that it is "A New and Correct Map ofthe Trading Part ofthe
The visual stories revealed in maps and charts come not just from the beauty of the images and the evidence they show of advances in technology and world-awareness, but also through evidence of where they took those who read them and how they were used. into his English Pilot series, whi ch instigated a century of p rivately pub I ished nautical charting based in Lo ndo n. Early English charting was heavily bo rrowed, if not di rectly copied, from th e D utch masters. By the 1770s, however, the glorious Atlantic Ne ptune charts of the Atlantic and G ulf coasts ofAm erica bowed to no nation in the skill of their p resentation. In the 1800s, W illiam Heather's privately p ublished charts shared the market wit h Bri tis h Ad m iralty ch am, whil e Edmund Blunt updated American coastal charting with his American p ilot, whi ch was superseded eventually by US Coast Survey charts and p ilots. 1-
More than 100 ofthese items are currently on exhibit at the library (24 October 1998-20 March 1999), including nautical charts, manuals ofinstruction in the arts ofcompass use and oceanic navigation, and decorative maps produced for the commercial market or as cartographic illustration and documentation. They range from simple black-andwhite illustrations ofheadlands to elaborate maps engraved on copper plates, printed on handmade paper, and hand-colored to perfection. (New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue&42ndStreet, New YorkNY100182788; 212 221-7676; www.nypl.org)
s, including the Seat ofWar between Gt. Britain and Spain; lileewise the British Empire in America, with and Spanish Settlements adjacent thereto; Adorn 'd with Prospects of most considerable Towns, Ports, rte, therein contain 'd from the latest & best Observations. " Yellow tints link the British Isles with their he Americasfrom Canada to Jamaica and south to Tobago. Views ofprime commercial centers are shown, es of ships demonstrating the popularity and value ofsuch outports as (at left, top to bottom) Havana, 'the treasury ofye Gold & Silver ofPeru'), Porto Rico, Cartagena, Porto Bello ("taken by Ad. Vernon on 1739'), and (at right, top to bottom) Boston, New York ("inhabited by English and Dutch'), Mexico, and Chagre ("taken by Ad. Vernon on the 29th March 1740'). Despite the claims ofthe "latest and best •ns, "California continues to be shown as an island. p was dedicated to Admiral Edward Vernon, who captured Porto Bello in 1739. The capture was not too s the Spanish forts protecting the port were in disrepair. It is said that the victory "caused the people of Ms. Hudson is curator of the exhibit and ·go mad with excitement andjoy. "Vernon is mostfamous as the inventor of"grog, "the watered-down rum chief of the Map Division of The New York Public Library. y in partial payment to sailors.
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SEA HISTORY 87, WINTER 1998-99
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