A Tour-De-Force of Climatic and Oceanic Data Science and Visualization.
A fantastic five-volume composite atlas featuring a continuous run of monthly North Atlantic Pilot Charts, from December of 1883 (the start of publication) to 1896, covering well over a decade's worth of climate data for the North Atlantic, specifically the main waterways from North America to Europe. The atlas also includes a volume of North Pacific Pilot Charts constituting a continuous run for the year 1898. In addition to these charts, the atlas includes, interspersed throughout, a number of separate charts recording ice coverage information and bottle and derelict flow charts. Altogether, the atlas represents an exceptional collection of climate and oceanic data visualization from the beginning of the first large-scale attempt to capture such information at consistent intervals over an extended period of time.
The charts were composed by the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office from information gathered by thousands of vessels. The charts record a plethora of information, which tends to grow in scope as the charts progress. Storms including hurricanes tracks are charted; icebergs and fields are mapped; the limits of fog and sea ice are shown; safe routes to avoid ice are traced; derelicts, wrecks, and buoys are tracked; directions and force of winds is shown on a consistent grid; water spouts; regions of equatorial rains; etc., etc.
Some of the additional maps are the most interesting, such as "The Average Tracks of Storms Over The Northern Hemisphere From the deductions by the U.S. Weather Bureau from the simultaneous international meteorological observations 1878-1887" and "The Chronology and Geographical Distribution of Icebergs in the Southern and Antarctic Oceans".
In the 1895 series, some of the charts relate to Herrle's Great Circle Navigational Method, with the world covered in a series of five charts on gnomonic projections. These charts were particularly useful for very-long-distance open ocean sailing. This highlights just one of the ways in which the Hydrographic Office endeavored to provide practical nautical information alongside the usual Pilot Charts.
The Origin of the Pilot Chart Series
The U.S. Navy began its involvement in continuous meteorological observation in 1838 when the Secretary of the Navy directed the Depot of Charts and Instruments to begin continuous three-hourly meteorological observations, day and night. The funding for this project continued yearly as late as 1859.
In his history of the U.S. Navy's marine meteorology projects, Charles C. Bates writes:
The catalyst for advancing the meteorological program, however, was Lieutenant Matthew Fontaine Maury, U.S.N., who was appointed Depot Superintendent on July 11, 1842. One of the intellectual giants of his time, Maury brought a farseeing mind, a flair for writing, and unflagging energy to his new assignment, a post more frequently referred to as the "Hydrographical Office" accompanied by some version of "National or Naval Observatory" than as a "Depot." Maury immediately organized an extensive system for collection of environmental data from logs of warships and domestic and foreign merchant vessels such as wind, air pressure and temperature, set and speed of ocean currents, and water temperature. His ambitious program began to pay dividends in a chart series issued between 1844 and 1861 without charge to the mariner in return for complete and accurate observations. Comprising this "Wind and Current Chart" series were Track Charts, Trade-Wind Charts, Pilot Charts, Whale Charts, Thermal Charts, and Storm and Rain Charts. . .
A report made in 1886 by a United States Senate Commission summarizes his contributions as follows:
"The wise and patient labors of Lieutenant Matthew F. Maury in meteorological research, led to the connection of the Government of the United States with the direct effort to utilize that science for the benefit of navigators, and for the extension of its advantages to the people at large.
"The eminent success of Lieutenant Maury in his studies of the physical geography of the sea and its meteorology has strengthened the belief that the collection and comparison of the facts through years of continuous and accurate observations made on land, at proper localities, will result in the discovery of the laws that govern atmospheric, electric and magnetic movements and conditions, so as to reduce them to a practical science.
"In 1853, the United States sent Lieutenant Maury to a general maritime conference, held at Brussels, at which a recommendation was made that a log-book should be kept on board vessels of war and merchant vessels, in which the observations relating to the weather should be carefully recorded. These were brought together, studied and compared by him, and the introduction was thus made of the science of meteorology as a means, to be provided by law, for the benefit of all who were concerned in navigation."
The Civil War caused a massive interruption to this project, as it saw Maury leave to become a Commodore in the Confederate Navy. Furthermore, the collection of data from merchant vessels ceased in 1861. Data collection began again more than 10 years, later, in 1873, and some meteorological charts were issued from 1876. Finally, in December of 1883, the first continuous monthly charts began publication in the form of the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean series. The Annual Report of the Hydrographer for 1884 summarized the purpose and nature of the charts:
These charts present the principal meteorological phenomena of the ocean in a graphic form for each month of the year. The method is so comprehensible that a mere inspection shows what meteorological conditions the mariner may expect in each five degree square of the ocean surface. The data for these charts have been deduced from over two million hours of observations, extending over a period of forty years.
The collection of data for the study of the meteorology of the ocean has been facilitated in a remarkable degree. . . . The number of vessels boarded by the officers attached to the branch offices during the year is 4,256; barometers corrected or compared 2,062; abstracts of logs made, 873; ice reported by 242 vessels. . . .
The series was extended to the North Pacific first and then to other sections of the globe. In 1915, with the issuance of the Pilot Chart, Central American Waters, the coverage of the whole world was complete. When airplanes began making the Transatlantic journey, the Hydrographic Office responded in 1927 by issue the first of a series of monthly Upper Air Pilot Charts, North Atlantic Ocean, portraying prevailing winds at the surface, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000-foot levels.
P.L. Richardson notes that the tracking of derelict floating wrecks and bottles by the Pilot Charts represents "the first large-scale and long-term measurement of ocean trajectories."
Provenance
From the Library of Danish Royal Navy, the Bibliothek Marinens.
Description of Contents
185 color-printed pilot charts and miscellaneous notices, maps, and diagrams. See below for a detailed list of the charts.
VOLUME 1883-1886: Folio (600x430 mm). In contemporary black half cloth. Hinges weak and upper half of spine detached. Gilt stamp to front board and stamp to front free end-paper. A total 37 folded charts (measuring 780x585 mm), several maps with repairs. Traces of old folds.
VOLUME 1887-1889: Folio (605x445 mm). In contemporary black half cloth. Hinges weak. Gilt stamp to front board and stamp to front free end-paper. A total 38 folded charts (measuring 835x590 mm). 6 charts with reinforced back. Traces of old folds.
VOLUME 1890-1893: Folio (610x445 mm). In contemporary black half cloth Hinges weak. Gilt stamp to front board and stamp to front free end-paper. A total of 53 folded charts (measuring 835x590 mm). Traces of old folds.
VOLUME 1894-1896: Folio (630x450 mm). In contemporary black half cloth. Hinges weak. Upper and lower part of spine reinforced. Gilt stamp to front board and stamp to front free end-paper. A total of 46 folded charts (measuring 835x590 mm). Traces of old folds.
VOLUME 1898: Folio (600x480 mm). In contemporary ½ black roan cloth with marbled boards. Hinges weak and upper and lower part of spine reinforced. Stamp to front free end-paper. A total of 11 folded charts (measuring 920x590 mm). Several maps with marginal repairs. Traces of old folds.
Full List of Charts by Volume Below
VOLUME 1883-1886
- No. 1, December 1883, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 2, January 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 3, February 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 4, March 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 5, April 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 6, May 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 7, June 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 8, July 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 9, August 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 10, September 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 11, October 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 12, November 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 13, December 1884, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 1, January 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 2, February 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 3, March 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 4, April 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 5, May 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 6, June 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No. 7, July 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- No 8, August 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1885, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- January 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1886, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
VOLUME 1887-1889
- January 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1887, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- January 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Supplement to the Chart for August 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1888, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- January 1889, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1889, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1889, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1889, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1889, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1889, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1889 (Published June 28), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1889 (Published July 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1889 (Published August 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- The St. Thomas-Hatteras Hurricane of September 3-12, 1889. Supplement to the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean for October 1889.
- October 1889 (Published September 27), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1889 (Published October 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1889 (Published November 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
VOLUME 1890-1893
- January 1890 (Published December 30, 1889), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1890 (Published January 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1890 (Published February 28), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1890 (Published March 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1890 (Published April 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1890 (Published May 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1890 (Published July 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1890 (Published July 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1890 (Published August 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1890 (Published September 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1890 (Published October 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1890 (Published December 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- January 1891 (Published December 30, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Ice in the North Atlantic - Season of 1889-90. Supplement to the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, January, 1891.
- February 1891 (Published January 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1891 (Published February 27), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1891 (Published March 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1891 (Published May 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1891 (Published June 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1891 (Published June 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- The Drift of Bottle Papers in the North Atlantic
- August 1891 (Published July 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1891 (Published September 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1891 (Published October 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1891 (Published October 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- December 1891 (Published December 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Transatlantic Steamship Routes. Supplement to the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, December 1891
- January 1892 (Published December 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1892 (Published February 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1892 (Published March 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1892 (Published April 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1892 (Published April 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1892 (Published May 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1892 (Published June 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- North Atlantic Ice Reported Since May 1st on or near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Supplement to the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, July 1892.
- August 1892 (Published July 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1892 (Published September 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1892 (Published September 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1892 (Published November 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- The Hurricane of November 21-28, 1888 off the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
- December 1892 (Published December 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- January 1893 (Published December 1892), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Transatlantic Steamship Routes. Supplement to the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, January 1893.
- February 1893 (Published February 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1893 (Published March 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1893 (Published March 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1893 (Published May 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1893 (Published June 1, Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1893 (Published June 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1893 (Published August 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1893 (Published August 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1893 (Published Septembe 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1893 (Published November 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Weather Conditions of two Cyclones of August 1893
- December 1893 (Published November 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
VOLUME 1894-1896
- January 1894 (Published January 3), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1894 (Published February 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1894 (Published March 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1894 (Published March 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1894 (Published May 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1894 (Published May 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1894 (Published June 28), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1894 (Published August 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Tracks of Storms (Published August 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1894 (Published August 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1894 (Published October 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- November 1894, (Published November 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Supplement to the Pilot Charts for the Month of November 1894. The Average Tracks of Storms.
- December 1894 (Published November 30), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- Weather Conditions on the North Atlantic Ocean for Six Days
- January 1895 (Published January 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1895 (Published January 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1895 (Published February 28), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1895 (Published March 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1895 (Published May 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1895 (Published June 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1895 (Published July 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1895 (Published August 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:]Great Circle Sailing Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean - Herrle's Method
- September 1895 (Published August 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:]Great Circle Sailing Chart of the South Atlantic Ocean - Herrle's Method
- October 1895 (Published October 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:]Great Circle Sailing Chart of the North Pacific Ocean - Herrle's Method
- November 1895 (Published October 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:]Great Circle Sailing Chart of the South Pacific Ocean - Herrle's Method
- December 1895 (Published December 1895), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:]Great Circle Sailing Chart of the Indian Ocean - Herrle's Method
- January 1896 (Published January 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- February 1896 (Published February 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- March 1896 (Published February 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- April 1896 (Published April 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- May 1896 (Published May 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- June 1896 (Published May 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- July 1896 (Published July 29), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- August 1896 (Published August 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- September 1896 (Published September 1), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- October 1896 (Published October 3), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:]Graphical Solution of Spherical Triangles
- November 1896 (Published October 31), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
- [Printed on verso the above:] The Chronology and Geographical Distribution of Icebergs in the Southern and Antarctic Oceans
- December 1896 (Published December 2), Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean
VOLUME 1898
- January 1898 (Published December 24, 1898), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- February 1898 (Published January 25), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- March 1898 (Published February 25), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- April 1898 (Published March 25)., Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- May 1898 (Published May 5), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- June 1898 (Published June 1), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- July 1898 (Published June 29), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- August 1898 (Published July 28), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- September 1898 (Published August 25), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- October 1898 (Published September 26), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- November 1898 (Published October 25), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean
- December 1898 (Published November 25), Pilot Chart of the North Pacific Ocean