1871 · Boston
by ELDRIDGE, George
Boston: S. Thaxter & Son, 1871. Map. Engraving backed with linen. Measures 16 3/8" x 23 7/8" Rare and incredibly detailed sea chart of the Massachusetts Bay extending from Nahant Bay in the north to Cohassett in the southeast. The map shows sounding in fathoms, and includes banks, shoals, ledges, buoys, and rocks. Roads, lighthouses, utilities, lifeboat stations, and prominent houses and landmarks are labeled. Relief is shown by hachure, and towns are indicated with grids. Text includes thorough sailing directions, descriptions of dangers and their bearings, as well as notes regarding currents, tides, and bearings. Sediments of the seabed are also labeled. Lighthouses are hand colored with red and yellow markings. George Eldridge (1821-1900) was a hydrographer, pilot, and fishing captain who produced a vast number of sea charts, primarily of the Northeastern coast, throughout the late 19th century. His son, George W. Eldridge, continued on the family business publishing sea charts of the Atlantic seaboard. His most well-known book, the Tide and Pilot book first published in 1854, is often referred to as the "Mariner's Bible" and still in use today, with updated versions published annually. (Inventory #: 297693)
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