Blueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century. Bluebacks, as they came to be called, were privately published large format nautical charts known for their distinctive blue paper backing. The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper traditionally used by publishers to warp unbound pamphlets, was adopted as a practical way to reinforce the low-quality paper used by private chart publishers in an effort to cut costs. The earliest known blueback charts include a 1760 chart issued by Mount and Page, and a 1787 chart issued by Robert Sayer.
The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade.
Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chartmakers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chartmakers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th century, when government subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey, began issuing their own superior charts on high quality paper that did not require reinforcement.
Norie originally issued this chart in 1832. The present example offers updates to 1860 and so must have been issued posthumously by Norie's heirs. Evidence suggests that there were most certainly intermediary variants published, but nevertheless this is the only example of this chart we have been able to positively identify in any collection public or private.Size: Printed area measures 39 inches high by 26 inches wide. If your address is a P. Duty varies by country and we cannot predict the amount you will be charged. Some countries are duty free, others are not.
Other Services Conservation Framing: Geographicus recommends basic conservation framing services for any antique paper. We do not offer this service. Antique Map Restoration: Geographicus can repair and restore your antique map. Services include deacidification cleaning flattening and backing. The item "1860 Norie Nautical Map of the Cape of Good Hope and False Bay, South Africa" is in sale since Tuesday, October 8, 2019. This item is in the category "Antiques\Maps, Atlases & Globes\Africa Maps". The seller is "geographicusmaps" and is located in 11221. This item can be shipped worldwide.