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Source Description
This chart predates the standardization of the measurement of longitude from the Greenwich Meridian, located near London. During the 18th century, map makers could choose one of several points from which to measure longitude. In fact, this chart provides references to five meridians: Paris, London (Greenwich), Ferro (western most of the Canary Islands), Tenerife (largest of The Canary Islands), and Cape Lizard (a southwestern peninsula of England). Prepared in the portolan-style, this chart contrasts nicely with modern navigational charts of the same region. They both have the same function -- to safely guide sailors through complicated and sometimes treacherous coastal waters.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
js956m421
label
Carte réduite des costes occidentale d'Afrique
core
obj
dtoType
map
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
js956m421
contentType
map
stage
normalized
title
Carte réduite des costes occidentale d'Afrique
description
This chart predates the standardization of the measurement of longitude from the Greenwich Meridian, located near London. During the 18th century, map makers could choose one of several points from which to measure longitude. In fact, this chart provides references to five meridians: Paris, London (Greenwich), Ferro (western most of the Canary Islands), Tenerife (largest of The Canary Islands), and Cape Lizard (a southwestern peninsula of England). Prepared in the portolan-style, this chart contrasts nicely with modern navigational charts of the same region. They both have the same function -- to safely guide sailors through complicated and sometimes treacherous coastal waters.
date
["[1765]"]
year
1765
rights
No known copyright restrictions.
rightsUri
No known restrictions on use.
reuseAllowed
no restrictions
language
French
identifierLocal
06_01_000071
creators
Bellin, Jacques Nicolas, 1703-1772
institution
Boston Public Library
collections
Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center Collection
Maritime Charts and Atlases
subjects
Nautical charts--Africa, West--Early works to 1800
Africa, West--Maps--Early works to 1800
subjectsGeographic
Africa
West Africa
genreBasic
Maps
typeOfResource
Cartographic
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
pageCount
1
source
import
pubPlace
Paris
publisher
[s.n.]
Source extras
institutionArkId
sf268508b
collectionArkId
41688024w
schema:latitude
14.533
schema:longitude
-2.316
extent
1 map ; 92 x 56 cm.
notes
First published in 1758.
Relief shown pictorially.
Depths shown by soundings.
Exhibited in “Faces and Places,” at the Boston Public Library, Boston, MA, October 2003 - September 2004. MB (BRL)
hasTranscription
no
dcId
js956m421
type
map
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
2f75d6d0947b4bb5