1886 / 1953 Guadeloupe to Trinidad - West Indies, Lesser Antilles Nautical Chart
DESCRIPTION
This British Admiralty nautical chart, originally published in 1886 and reissued in 1953 with corrections through 1957, depicts the chain of the Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe southward to Trinidad. Compiled from multiple government surveys, it presents a broad navigational view of the Windward Islands with detailed coastal soundings, island topography, and major navigational routes along one of the Caribbean’s principal north–south maritime corridors.
Hydrographic Detail and Navigational Information
The chart is dominated by depth soundings in fathoms extending across both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Islands including Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Grenada, and Trinidad appear with surrounding shoals, reefs, and offshore banks plotted in detail. Numerous smaller islets, cays, and rocks are identified along the Grenadine chain. Two large compass roses provide bearings for coastal and offshore navigation, and several printed notes warn mariners of uncertain or shifting depths, particularly around active volcanic islands such as St. Vincent. The revisions up to 1957 incorporate updated sounding data and navigational adjustments but do not include pasted-on correction panels.
Island Topography and Geographic Features
Each island is rendered with shaded relief showing its mountainous volcanic spine and deeply cut valleys, characteristic of the Lesser Antilles’ geology. Settlements, headlands, bays, anchorages, and prominent coastal features are labeled, though the scale of the chart allows only major topographic elements to be shown. The relative distances between islands, their orientation within the arc of the Caribbean, and the open ocean passages to the east are clearly conveyed. Trinidad’s northern coastline is depicted along the bottom edge, offering additional navigational context for vessels approaching the Gulf of Paria.
Historical Context
During the period represented by this chart’s publication and subsequent updates, the islands shown transitioned through significant political and economic changes. Most were British colonies, while Guadeloupe and Martinique remained French territories. The chain served as a crucial route for inter-island commerce, Caribbean coastal trade, and transatlantic shipping passing through the Lesser Antilles. Marine transport carried agricultural exports such as sugar, cocoa, bananas, and spices, while the islands’ volcanic activity and narrow passages required careful nautical charting. The continued corrections through 1957 indicate sustained maritime traffic and the need to maintain reliable navigation information along one of the region’s busiest shipping arcs.
CONDITION
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