The Thornton Sea Atlas from the NYPL
8/29/24The Thornton Sea Atlas, also known as "Atlas maritimus or, the sea-atlas," was a significant maritime atlas created by John Thornton in 1700[1]. This atlas was part of a broader tradition of sea atlases that emerged during the 16th and 17th centuries, providing crucial navigational information for mariners.Key FeaturesContent: The Thornton Sea Atlas contained hydrographical descriptions of most of the sea-coasts of the known parts of the world[3]. It included detailed nautical charts, such as:- A New Chart of the Bahama Islands[1]- The Coast of Norway and Lapland, from North kyn to the River Kola[2]- Charts of the Irish Sea, showing detailed coastlines of Ireland, Wales, and western England[5][7]Historical Context: The Thornton Sea Atlas was produced during a period when the British were beginning to challenge Dutch dominance in maritime cartography. It followed in the tradition of earlier Dutch works like those by Willem Janszoon Blaeu and Pieter Goos, but represented a shift towards British cartographic prominence[1].Significance: As one of the early British maritime atlases, the Thornton Sea Atlas played a crucial role in navigation and maritime trade. It was part of a lineage that included John Seller's "The English Pilot" (1671) and "Atlas maritimus, or the sea-atlas" (1675), which had initiated the printed chart trade in England[1].LegacyThe Thornton Sea Atlas continued to be influential even after John Thornton's time. Samuel Thornton, likely John's son or relative, later published versions of the atlas[3][6]. These later editions maintained the atlas's importance in maritime navigation well into the 18th century.Today, the Thornton Sea Atlas is considered a rare and valuable historical document, with copies and individual charts from the atlas held in major libraries and collections around the world[1][4][6].Source: Perplexity.ai-- G. Ly
