First Large-Scale Chart to Focus on the Coast of Northern California & Oregon

"A Chart Shewing Part of the Coast of N.W. America, with the Tracks of His Majesty's Sloop Discovery and Armed Tender, Chatham ... from Latd. of 38°15' N. & Longd. 237°27' E. to Latd. 45°46' N. and Longd. 236°15' E.", Vancouver, George (Capt)

This is the first edition of the first detailed, modern chart of the coast of Northern California and Oregon. It is a beautifully engraved, large-scale map depicting the coastal topography of New Albion from Point Arena to just below the mouth of the Columbia River. It extends east to Mount Hood, identified for the first time on this chart. The track of Vancouver's exploration in 1792 is shown complete with dates, soundings, and anchorages. There is an inset of Trinidad Bay in California at bottom left. Published by J. Edwards & G. Robinson.

During the summers of 1792-94, George Vancouver and the crew of the British naval ships Discovery and Chatham mapped the northwest coast of North America from Baja California to Alaska. Vancouver's voyage was the last, and longest, of the great Pacific voyages of the late eighteenth century. Taking the art and technique of distant voyaging to a new level, Vancouver eliminated the possibility of a Northwest Passage and his remarkably precise surveys completed the outline of the Pacific.

References: Wagner (NW) #853.

Condition: B

A crisp impression issued folding, on a sheet with light toning and a light stain in an unengraved area at bottom right. Professionally backed in archival tissue to repair separations along the folds, a 7" edge tear at right, and a chip at right with a minor amount of the border replaced in facsimile.