Sign In

These two maps, from the Atlas of the White Sea, depict the western and eastern portions of the White Sea, carefully surveyed and charted under the leadership of Captain Lieutenant M. Reineke between 1827 and 1833.

Shown on the Mercator projection, these nautical charts were created for navigation and illustrate the detailed topography of the coastal regions, islands, and depths of the White Sea, which is located in the northwest of Russia, bordering the Arctic Ocean.

The charts provide significant detail on underwater features, including depths, reefs, and underwater rocks, as indicated in the legends. Depths are marked in sazhens (fathoms) with variations from 1 to 4 sazhen, or 6 to 24 feet, noted clearly. Symbols represent various seabed conditions, such as underwater and above-water rocks, as well as safe anchorage points, which are marked with specific symbols for rocks, sand, or mixed compositions of the seabed. These maps served as critical navigational tools for mariners traversing the White Sea, offering precise knowledge of the sea's hazards and safe channels.

Inset maps further detail specific coastal areas and their intricacies, enabling sailors to navigate the region's complex waterways with greater accuracy. These charts reflect the thoroughness of early 19th-century Russian cartographic efforts and the importance of detailed nautical surveys in ensuring the safety and success of naval and commercial ventures in these northern waters.

The map titles translate as follows:

• Mercator Map of the Western Part of the White Sea. Based on observations and soundings made from 1829 to 1833 under the direction of Captain Lieutenant M. Reineke.
• Mercator Map of the Eastern Part of the White Sea Composed: Based on observations and soundings made from 1827 to 1833 under the direction of Captain Lieutenant M. Reineke.

The two inset maps are detailed nautical charts focusing on specific bays along the White Sea.  

1. Inset Map of Onega Bay ("Карта Онегскаго рейда")
   The first inset, titled "Map of Onega Bay," charts the waters surrounding the Onega River's estuary, which flows into the White Sea. This chart was produced based on observations made by naval surveyors from 1829 to 1831. The map focuses on depth soundings (marked in fathoms), coastal contours, and small islands like O. Kyosto. Several key topographical features are shown, such as the Ilyinsky Peninsula and adjacent channels, helping mariners navigate the shoals and safe waters near the Onega River's mouth. The map's detail shows depths in a grid across the bay and highlights underwater hazards, ensuring ships could avoid shallow areas and reefs.  

2. Inset Map of Solovetsky Bay ("Карта Соловецкаго рейда")
   The second inset, titled "Map of Solovetsky Bay," provides a similarly detailed survey of the waters surrounding the Solovetsky Islands, which are located in the western part of the White Sea. This chart was created from observations taken in 1829. It highlights key landmarks such as the Solovetsky Monastery and nearby smaller islands, like Bolshoi and Maly Zayatsky, alongside various islets and underwater topographical features. Like the Onega Bay map, depth soundings are meticulously charted, ensuring navigators can avoid submerged rocks and other hazards. The map provides critical guidance for sailors approaching the significant Solovetsky Monastery complex, an important historical and religious site, ensuring they can safely anchor in the bay.

Reinecke's work was part of a larger project to chart the Arctic and northern regions of the Russian Empire, and his maps became essential tools for navigation and scientific research during the 19th century. 

The pair was part of the publication of the highly influential Atlas of the White Sea, overseen by Vice-Admiral Mikhail Frantsevich Reineke (1801–1859), a prominent Russian hydrographer and explorer. Reineke's work, produced during his extensive surveys of the White and Murmansk Seas between 1826 and 1832, contributed to the advancement of Russian hydrographic knowledge and provided essential navigational tools for mariners in the region. The map is one of 12 sea charts which appeared in the atlas.  The full title of the atlas is:

Атлас Белого моря, составлен при Гидрографическом депо Главного морского штаба его императорского величества, по наблюдениям и промеру, произведенным с 1827 по 1833 год. 

Translation: Atlas of the White Sea, compiled at the Hydrographic Depot of the Main Naval Staff of His Imperial Majesty, based on observations and measurements made from 1827 to 1833.

Reineke's expedition, conducted aboard the brig Lapominka, focused on the hydrographic survey of the Murmansk and Terek coasts, the White Sea, and the surrounding areas. This mission, which involved measuring tidal currents, conducting meteorological observations, and taking depth measurements, formed the foundation for an atlas that served Russian seafarers for many decades. The team also produced detailed astronomical observations, checked coastal directions, and explored suitable anchorage sites along the northern coast.

The Atlas of the White Sea was highly regarded for its accuracy and detail. It became a standard reference for sailors navigating the challenging waters of the White Sea and Lapland coasts, remaining in use until 1910. The map of the Northern Dvina estuary was particularly important due to the strategic significance of Arkhangelsk and other towns located near the river delta, which served as major trading and naval centers for centuries. The atlas provided essential navigational guidance for ships entering and exiting the White Sea through the Northern Dvina's delta, ensuring safer voyages in an area known for its treacherous waters. 

In addition to the atlas, Reineke compiled an extensive written work titled  Гидрографическое описание северного берега России . . . (Hydrographic Description of the Northern Coast of Russia), published 18 years after the conclusion of the expedition. This book, described as an appendix to the atlas, was in fact a comprehensive reference text that went beyond standard sailing directions. It provided a detailed encyclopedia of the White Sea's geography, the livelihoods of its coastal inhabitants, and the region's climate and vegetation. The first part of the Hydrographic Description focused on the White Sea, while the second part examined the Lapland coast, providing a systematic description of the shores, tidal heights, and coastal cities. It also included information on the specific work carried out by Reineke’s expedition from 1827 to 1832.

The atlas, together with the Hydrographic Description, became an authoritative guide for Russian maritime exploration and commercial navigation. The combination of detailed maps and extensive textual descriptions represented a significant contribution to Russian hydrography and ensured that Reineke's work had a long-lasting impact on seafaring in the region. 

Rarity

This pair of sea charts, like the atlas, are extremely rare. 

OCLC locates one example in the Library of Congress.  No auction or dealer records were located.