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Rare Separately Published Set

This large three-sheet nautical chart of Long Island Sound, published in 1855 by the U.S. Coast Survey under the direction of F.R. Hassler and A.D. Bache, provides a detailed trigonometric survey of the waterway, capturing the maritime, geographic, and early infrastructural landscape of Long Island and the Connecticut coastline before the rapid industrial and suburban expansion of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The chart includes extensive hydrographic and navigational data, such as sailing directions, depth soundings, tidal variations, and navigational hazards. It details the currents and tide stations at various points along the Sound, offering an essential guide for mariners. This data reflects the precision of the U.S. Coast Survey’s methods, which were critical for safe navigation in a time when maritime commerce and transportation played a central role in the region’s economy.

Beyond its navigational utility, the map provides a geographic and infrastructural snapshot of the mid-19th century Long Island Sound region. The Long Island Rail Road’s Main Line, which opened in 1844, and the New York & New Haven Railroad, operational since 1849, are depicted feeding the small towns along the shore. The Gold Coast of Long Island, later known for its wealth and luxury estates, appears on the map as rural farmland, indicating a largely agrarian landscape before its transformation into an elite residential area. Meanwhile, parts of Connecticut’s coastline already exhibit their modern-day layouts, suggesting an earlier phase of urban development compared to Long Island.

The chart features several insets and coastal elevation profiles that aid in maritime navigation. A New York City inset appears in the western section, providing context for the Sound’s proximity to the metropolis. Additionally, the map includes coastal profile views, which were essential for sailors to identify key landmarks when approaching the shore. Among these are Stratford Point Light (Stratford, CT), Sand’s Point Light (Manhasset, NY), Eaton’s Neck Light (Asharoken, NY), Old Field Point Light (Old Field, NY), and Captain Island Light (Greenwich, CT) in the western section. The middle section highlights Saybrook Light (Old Saybrook, CT) and New Haven Light (East Haven, CT), while the eastern section features Plum Island, The Race Entrance (Southold, NY), Montauk Point Light (Montauk, NY), and Block Island (New Shoreham, RI). 

The U.S. Coast Survey, founded in 1807, was the nation’s first scientific agency, later evolving into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The survey teams that produced this chart consisted of civilian, Army, and Naval officers, working collaboratively to map America’s waterways and coastlines. In addition to nautical charts, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey was responsible for Civil War battle maps, early aeronautical charts, and land sketches. Their work played a crucial role in maritime safety, economic expansion, and military strategy.

This 1855 U.S. Coast Survey chart of Long Island Sound is a significant hydrographic, historical, and geographical artifact. It captures the early settlement and transportation networks of one of the most economically and politically important waterways in the United States before its full transformation into a commercial and residential hub. The map remains an essential resource for historians, geographers, and collectors interested in maritime history and the evolution of the American coastal landscape.

Rarity

While individual sheets on thin paper from the annual Report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey appear on the market, the complete set of charts on thick paper are extremely rare.

This is the first complete set we have offered for sale.