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Large engraved nautical chart detailing the coastal waters of Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay, compiled from a trigonometrical survey conducted by the U.S. Coast Survey. The chart captures the intricate coastline from Cape Ann to Cape Cod, including Boston Harbor, Plymouth Bay, and Provincetown, with highly detailed hydrographic information. Depth soundings, banks, shoals, and navigational aids such as lighthouses and beacons are carefully delineated. Coastal topography is rendered with fine hachuring, highlighting the rugged terrain, barrier beaches, and inlets that characterize the New England shoreline.
The chart includes extensive notes on tidal variations, compass variations, and navigational hazards, crucial for mariners navigating these historically significant and heavily trafficked waters. Insets provide further navigational data, including tide tables, sailing directions, and profiles of key landmarks such as Cape Cod’s distinctive hook-shaped peninsula. The hydrographic work was conducted under the supervision of Alexander Dallas Bache and Benjamin Peirce, two of the foremost scientific minds of the 19th century, whose leadership elevated the U.S. Coast Survey to international prominence.
At the time of publication, the maritime economy of New England was at its height, with Boston serving as a major commercial hub for domestic and transatlantic trade. The survey reflects the increasing precision and systematic approach of American hydrography, integrating data collected from extensive fieldwork, astronomical observations, and soundings taken by Coast Survey vessels. The corrections made through 1878 demonstrate the evolving nature of coastal charting in response to shifting sandbanks and updated navigational infrastructure.
An important and highly detailed official chart, issued at a time when maritime navigation was fundamental to trade and industry along the Eastern Seaboard.
