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Description

Fine large format sea chart of the coast of Brazil and Paraguay, published by Richard Laurie in London.

The map includes inset plans of a number of Brazilian and other harbors, including:

  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Bahia San Salvador
  • Montevideo
  • Rio Grande de Pedro
  • Paranagua
  • Maldonado
  • Cananea 
  • Santos
  • Marambaya
  • Roadstead of Cape. Sta. Maria
  • St. Sebastian
  • Bahia do Espirito Santo
  • Pernambuco
  • Approaches to Pernambuco
  • Mouths of the Marañon
  • Marnanham &c.
  • Rio Para
  • Entrance of Parahyba do Norte
  • Rio Grande do Norte
  • River Jaguarybe

There are also 7 profile views, including two exceptional views of Rio de Janeiro and San Salvador or Bahia.

Condition Description
Minor soiling at edges of map. A few small tears at left.
Richard Holmes Laurie Biography

Richard Holmes Laurie (1777-1858) was the son of mezzotint engraver Robert Laurie, who had taken over Robert Sayer's publishing house with James Whittle in 1794. Richard Holmes Laurie joined in a partnership with Whittle when his father retired in 1812. The name of the firm then switched from Laurie & Whittle to Whittle & Laurie. Whittle died in 1818, leaving Richard Holmes to continue publishing alone as R. H. Laurie.

When the Hydrographic Office opened in 1795, it was tasked with creating and producing all the nautical charts for the Royal Navy so as to wean the Navy off dependence on foreign charts. By the 1820s, private publishers were augmenting HO charts and competing with them, including Richard Holmes Laurie. Richard gave up publishing anything except nautical materials by 1830. He also sold charts to Trinity House, the lighthouse and maritime safety fraternity. He died in 1858. 

The firm continued to print under the name R.H. Laurie even after 1858. Later, the firm was managed by Laurie’s draughtsman, Alexander George Findlay, and, later, Daniel and William Kettle.