1955 / 1957 Charleston Harbour
By: British Admiralty
Date: 1955 / 1957 (dated) London
Dimensions: 26 x 39 inches (66 x 99 cm)
A beautiful mid-century working nautical chart of the Charleston Harbor from Folly Island to Delaware Island including the town of Charleston and entrance to the Copper, Wando, and Ashley Rivers. This nautical chart was published by the Admiralty under Crown copyright in 1955, updated with small corrections in 1957.
This chart of the Charleston Harbor features all the necessary information for navigating those waters including depth soundings in fathoms, lights, buoys, and shallow areas colored in a faint blue/green. Marshy land is illustrated and all major roads and streets are delineated throughout the map, creating a city plan of Charleston.
Advancements in Nautical Chart Printing Technology
Traditionally, nautical charts issued by the Admiralty were meticulously crafted from copper plate engravings. However, the evolving nature of the real world posed challenges in updating these engravings. In the 1820s, attempts were made to explore lithography as an alternative, yet the results fell short of expectations despite its cost-effectiveness. Consequently, copper plate printing remained predominant well into the 20th century.
A significant turning point arrived in 1938 with trials of the rotary offset process, utilizing zinc plates replicated from the original copper engravings. The success of these trials led to the adoption of this faster and more sustainable process for all chart production by the outbreak of World War II. This innovation proved vital in meeting the heightened demand for charts during wartime.
Following the war, advancements in printing technology enabled the introduction of color printing with sufficient precision for charting purposes. The incorporation of printed color, rather than hand-drawn, revolutionized chart design. Notably, the first application of printed color was in delineating water depths Solid pale light green or blue was used for water to the 3 fathom line, and a ribbon of the same color was used six fathoms
This chart is a fine example of the breakthrough change in printing technology utilized for nautical charts during and after WWII.
Condition: Map is in A+ condition folded in the center with sharp detail and lovely printed color on bright and clean paper with full margins on all sides and no tears or holes.
NOTE: Any shading along the centerfold is a result of the scanning process and not nearly as pronounced when viewed in hand.
Inventory #12741
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