Ode to Oceanography: A Pair of Antique Nautical Charts of Cuba

A photograph of coastal southern Cuba. Credit to havana-guide.com.

Although we typically focus on individual charts, today’s article features a pair of them. Today’s maps are an antique pair of 143-year-old nautical charts of Cuba.

These charts are decently sized, at 37 inches long by 24 inches wide each. Each chart has minor soiling, with miscellaneous dark spots or discolouration. These charts focus on the Eastern & Western Cuba, along with surrounding islands such as Isla de la Juventud.

In today’s article, we are going to examine these antique maps, discuss them, & analyze them. With that being said, let’s delve into the glimmering waters of the Caribbean!

The Chart

An antique nautical chart of the western portion of Cuba, along with Isla de la Juventud. Credit to US Hydrographic Office.

An antique nautical chart of the eastern portion of Cuba. Credit to the US Hydrographic Office.

These nautical charts focus on the Eastern & Western halves of Cuba respectively. Chart 1 focuses on the western half of Cuba, featuring areas such as Havana, Candelaria, Alquizar, & Pinar del Rio. Islands can be seen plentifully in both the south, & north. Railways & land routes are included, marked in dashed or solid black lines in the interior.

Areas are marked with useful snippets such as “Low land with trees from 70 to 80 feet”, & “Rise of tide 3 feet”, this chart would have been useful to any mariner cruising Cuban waters in the 19th century. Various reefs are labelled, which would have been critical in preventing running aground, an accident that can cause hull damage, capsizing, injury, & potentially death for the crew on board.

When sailing for extended periods, finding safe areas to anchor is paramount to preventing going off course. Sailors of the era  seeking a safe area providing ample shelter near south Cuba would have found so at the bottom of this chart. A paragraph providing coordinates to a protected area of Puerto Francis can be seen at the bottom of the chart, along with a more detailed view of Puerto Francis. According to this, spiny lobsters, rays, & alligators were abundant in the area.

On the top of the chart, illustrations of lighthouses on Piedras Cay, & Elbow Cay can be seen. 6 compass roses are littered around the chart, useful in steering sailors in the direction of true north, as well as magnetic North.

Chart 2 focuses on the Eastern half of Cuba, featuring areas such as Santiago de Cuba. Railways & land routes have also been included. Numerous illustrations of lighthouses & highlands can be seen. 5 compass roses are displayed.

Both charts are coloured in yellow with black accents, along with occasional red markers. Although the coastline has become more developed in years since, & the interior of the charts are not well-developed, the charts are surprisingly accurate.

An Analysis of the Charts

This chart was produced in May, 1882, by the U.S. Hydrographic Office. The U.S. Hydrographic Office was created as an office of the Department of the Navy in 1866, & was  replaced by the Naval Oceanographic Office in 1962. During its lifetime, its primary office was located in Washington D. C.

The charts were originally based on British Admiralty Charts 2579 & 2580. The charts are titled “Cuba: Western Portion” & “Cuba: Eastern Portion” respectively. Each chart was originally sold at a price of 66 cents each.

Considering the maker & time, this chart was most likely manufactured using lithography.

Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common.

In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed.

Directories / Credits

All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them.

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