1693 The East Coast of Scotland with the Isles of Orkney and Shetland
By: Greenville Collins
Date: 1693 (circa) London
Dimensions: 17.5 x 21.75 inches (44.5 x 55.25 cm)
This interesting sea chart is the work of Captain Greenville Collins, hydrographer to King Charles II of England in the 17th century, and one of the best known English surveyors of his day. Collins spent most of eight years on board Merlin, the king’s royal yacht, charting the waters and coastlines of Britain.
Oriented west, the map depicts much of the eastern coast of Scotland and northern England along with the islands of both the Orkney and Shetland Archipelagos. The east coast is detailed from Bambrough in Northumberland to the Pentland Firth in Scotland with many coastal towns and villages named. The chart shows detailed information for navigational purposes. Rhumb lines radiate from a large number of points. Water depths and safe anchorages are indicated in places, as are areas of shallows The chart shows the area in great detail, with the hazards it presents to navigation of it carefully delineated.
The map is similar to that published by Johannes van Keulen at about the same time, but is not as detailed the Dutch map, in which arrows are used to show the direction in which the wind blows, and miniscule anchors are used to indicate many sites of safe anchorage. Nonetheless, Collins was greatly respected and his maps were confidently used by navigators, as he was the first to publish a sea atlas for the English Crown.
The map is embellished with an ornate title cartouche, a coat of arms, a compass rose and a number of seagoing craft of various kinds, from large frigates to smaller fishing vessels.
Condition: This map is in very fine condition. Archival material has been used on the verso to repair thinning of paper at top of centerfold. Some damp staining. Wear of the edges is consistent with having been used for navigational purposes.
Inventory #12377
1200 W. 35th St. #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622