"Edgartown Harbor Founded Upon a Trigonometrical Survey…", U.S. Coast Survey

The Office of Coast Survey is the oldest U.S. scientific organization, dating from 1807 when Congress directed that a "survey of the coast" be carried out. By 1836, it was called the U.S. Coast Survey and in 1878, the name was changed to the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Today the Office of Coast Survey is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA.

The survey teams, composed of civilians as well as Army and Naval officers, charted the nation's waterways and produced a wide array of reports, survey charts, hydrographic studies of tides and currents, astronomical studies and observations, and coastal pilots. These charts are an important record of the changing nature of the nation's coastlines. In additional to coastal charts, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey produced land sketches, Civil War battle maps, and the early aeronautical charts.

A very attractive chart produced by the Coast Survey. Fully and beautifully engraved with detail on land as well as the coastline. Filled with hundreds of soundings, anchorages, hazards, bottom type and light houses. At bottom are three profile views showing the entrance to Edgartown Harbor. Produced under the direction of A.D. Bache.

References:

Condition: B+

Backed in heavy tissue with some small ink stains in the image at bottom and minor soiling in the blank margins.