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Description

Detailing an instrumental moment in the navigational history of the Straits of Magellan, this 1788 map by Joaquín Camacho offers an unprecedented study of the region. The six carefully charted bays—Bahia De San Nicolas, Tres Bahias, Bahia De Valcarcel, Puerto De San Miguel y Bahia De Gaston, and Puerto De San Antonio y Bahia Valdes—provide an invaluable perspective on the strategic importance of these waterways during the late 18th century.

Navigational challenges and geopolitical considerations converged around the Straits of Magellan towards the close of the 18th century. Recognizing the significance of these narrow waterways as a passageway to the Pacific, the Spanish government in 1785 commissioned a study to assess the continued feasibility of the Straits for their maritime expeditions. This context lends historical weight to the map at hand, each component of which serves as a testament to the strategic deliberations that would reorient Spain's Pacific navigation routes.

Painstakingly composed, these maps stand as the first thorough cartographic study of the Straits of Magellan and Patagonia conducted by the Spanish government. They show not merely topographical features, but the aspirations and calculations of an empire navigating the high stakes of global trade and exploration. The charts encapsulate the findings of two expeditions led by Captain Antonio de Córdoba y Laso, whose team concluded the infeasibility of continued use of the Straits for Spanish voyages to the Pacific—an outcome that heralded a significant shift in Spanish maritime navigation routes.

Published as part of Relacion del último Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes de la Fragata de S.M. Santa Maria de la Cabeza en los anos de 1785 y 1786. Extracto de todos los anteriores desde su descubrimiento impresos y MSS..., these maps embody a convergence of maritime strategy, geography, and the quest for knowledge. They mark a pivotal moment in the cartographic history of the region, illustrating an era of exploration and discovery that would ultimately redefine Spain's engagement with the Pacific.

Reference
See: Hill 1756. Sabin 16765, 1729. Palau 352514, 352515.