[AUSTRALIA-] A General Chart of the Indian and Part of the Pacific Oceans, Shewing the Various Passages to & from China, Australia, New Zealand, &c. Carefully Constructed & Compiled from the most approved Observations and Modern Surveys, by J.S. Hobbs, F.R.G.S. Hydrog

Description

Magnificent 2m wide hydrographic wall chart of the sea routes for the eastern trade.

Very detailed hydrographic chart on four sheets, first published in 1873, this edition 1880, showing the navigational routes in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. With the importance of in the east it was crucial for British ships to be able navigate safely in the orient and Pacific. With the not only continual changes of depths in harbours with build up and movement of sand and silt, the Hydrographic Department regularly carried out new surveys to update their existing charts. Sometimes as in this chart they carried out a totally new survey with current discoveries, more accurate surveys of coastlines and noting new hazards such as wrecks etc.

There are are a number of insets and coastal profiles of the more important ports;
1. Hong Kong
2. Port Louis, Mauritius
3. Bombay (Mumbai)
4. Algoa Bay & Simon’s Bay
5. Port Phillip (view from the sea)
7. Cape Leeuwin Western Australia

Institutional collections:
National Library of Australia: Bib ID1041134 (2 sheets only of four-1860)

Charts issued by the British Hydrographic Office were continually updated and as a consequence seafarers discarded earlier versions, making these charts, rare survivors. The Hydrographic Office first offered it’s chart for sale to the general public through a series of chart agents in 1821.