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An engraved nautical chart in three sheets depicting the southern coast of Long Island, published by the U.S. Coast Survey. The map provides hydrographic and topographic details, showing soundings, sandbanks, and navigational hazards along the Atlantic shoreline. The landward portion illustrates settlements, marshlands, roads, and terrain. Each sheet contains elevation profiles, with notable landmarks such as Fire Island and Montauk Point lighthouses.
The western sheet, published in 1853, covers the region from Hempstead Bay to Bellport Bay, including the settlements of Merrick, Babylon, Islip, and Patchogue. The middle sheet, published in 1857, extends from Moriches Bay to Gardiner's Bay, including the towns of "South Hampton", Millville, "Bridge Hampton", "Wainscolt", Amagansett, and East Hampton. The eastern sheet, also from 1857, covers Montauk and Block Island, detailing the rugged coastline and navigational markers.
These charts were part of the extensive U.S. Coast Survey efforts under A.D. Bache, which significantly improved maritime navigation and coastal cartography in the mid-19th century. Long Island’s southern shore presented navigational challenges, with shifting sandbanks and frequent storms necessitating detailed survey work.
Rarity
Issued as official government charts, these maps were essential for mariners and coastal engineers. Complete sets of such large-format coastal surveys are increasingly scarce, particularly in well-preserved condition.
![[ Lake Champlain and environs ] Carte de la Riviere de Richelieu et du Lac Champlain](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/98487.jpg)
