A Correct Sea Chart of the Whole World, …

Rare large-scale English navigational chart extending from Africa to Australia and dedicated to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Australia shown with the discoveries made by Abel Tasman in 1642-44 and including some of the Dutch discoveries by, the van Leeuwin 1622, Nuyts 1627 and Cartensz 1623. As the title states, the map was made on Wright’ projection, commonly named after Mercator. While Mercator had first used the projection in his famous world wall map of 1569, he had not provided any supporting explanation regarding its use, preventing both the production and navigational use of Mercator charts. Edward Wright, an English mathematician and cartographer, set out to explain the mathematical basis for the projection in his Certaine Errors in Navigation, first published in 1599. Knapton’ Atlas maritimus &amp Commercialis or, A General View of the World So far as relates to Trade and Navigation was an attempt to rival Thornton’ English Pilot and to satisfy British demand for maps and navigational information regarding trade with the English colonies. The atlas provided a description of the tradeable commodities to be found in the East, with accompanying sailing directions and large-scale charts. Knapton described in the introduction to his atlas the scope of his work: ‘ all the coasts, ports, harbours, and noted rivers, according to the latest discoveries and most exact observations. Together with a large account of the commerce carried on by sea between the several countries of the world, as likewise of all inland trade by means of navigable rivers the rise, progress, and decay thereof, in its various branches with methods for farther improvements. To which are added sailing directions for all the known coasts and islands on the globe with a set of sea-charts, some laid down after Mercator, but the greater part according to a new globular projection, adapted for measuring distances (as near as possible) by scale and compass, and authorized by letters patent under the great seal of Great-Britain. The use of the projection justified by Dr. Halley. To which are subjoin’ two large hemispheres on the plane of the equinoctial containing all the stars in the Britannic catalogue: of great use to sailors for finding the latitude in the night.’ The atlas is thought to be the work of John Senex, John Harris, and Henry Wilson. John Senex was an active and important English mapmaker, bookseller, instrument-seller, globemaker, engraver and surveyor who was made Geographer to the Queen. As early as 1724 Senex had advertised ‘ compleat sea-atlas, from a true globular projection’ for Knapton’ Atlas maritimus &amp Commercialis . John Harris was a mathematical instrument-maker who was active 1721-1728 and was involved with patenting a projection with John Senex and Henry Wilson in 1721. References: Worms p.298, p.600.