"Report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, showing the progress of that work during the year ending November 1848", U.S. Coast Survey

Complete government report that describes the survey of the Texas coast that began in 1848 under the direction of A.D. Bache, Superintendent U.S. Coast Survey, Bodies' Island. Includes the first published chart of the survey of the Texas coast "Sketch G Showing the progress in Section No. 9," centered on Galveston City the chart extends to include the West and East bays and north to Edward's Point. The end of the Mexican War and settlement in the northwest with Great Britain nearly doubled the coastline of the U.S. under the Coast Survey's charge. Surveying work began in Texas in 1848 at Galveston Bay with triangulations laid out in every direction and key points determined from Galveston Bay to the mouth of the Bazos River. The first chart shows the northeast coast to include Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. The second shows the survey progress in Boston Bay, next is an uncommon chart which shows recently discovered shoals and other dangers adjacent to Nantucket Island. Another shows the Connecticut coast and Long Island down to the Delaware Bay. Sketch B Showing progress off shore includes Little and Great Egg Harbors and Sandy Hook. The next chart details survey progress in the Chesapeake Bay. Then the Albemarle Sound chart includes Newport News with good detail throughout. Sketch D extends from Cape Code to Cape Hatteras and details the Gulf Stream observations in 1845, 46, 47 & 48. The next chart shows survey progress between St. Helena Sound and Dull's Bay. Sketch F shows survey progress from Mobile westward to Mississippi City and on to the Bay of St. Louis. 120 pages. Disbound. 12 mo. The stamp on first page indicates this copy belonged to the Secretary of the Senate.

References: Martin & Martin p. 147.

Condition: B+

Contents are very good with just a hint of scattered foxing. Disbound with signatures and some pages loose. The charts in this example are surprisingly clean and bright with crisp engravings.