The Atlantic Neptune (1 of 2)
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3301pm.gan00002/?st=...The Atlantic Neptune is a monumental nautical atlas that played a crucial role in British maritime navigation and exploration of North America in the late 18th century. Here's an overview of its history:## Origins and CreationThe Atlantic Neptune was created in response to the Royal Navy's need for accurate charts of North America's eastern coasts following the French and Indian War[1]. The project was led by Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres, a talented surveyor and cartographer[3].Des Barres began surveying the coast of Nova Scotia in 1764, a task that took approximately ten years due to the region's complex geography[3]. He famously remarked on the difficulty of the work, noting that the shore was "so much intersected with Bays, Harbours, and Creeks" and the waters were "so full of Islands, Rocks, and Shoals as are almost innumerable"[3].## Publication and ContentsThe Atlantic Neptune was published between 1774 and 1781, with some sources indicating publication continued until as late as 1803[1][6]. It consisted of four volumes containing:1. Charts of North American coasts and harbors2. Views of coastal landscapes3. Nautical sailing directionsThe atlas covered the eastern coast of British North America, from Newfoundland to New York, with a particular focus on Atlantic Canada[1][3].## Significance and ImpactThe Atlantic Neptune represented a major advancement in nautical cartography:- It was the most comprehensive and accurate collection of charts for North America at the time[1].- The charts were of exceptionally high quality and remained the standard for decades[4].- It provided the Royal Navy with a distinct navigational advantage[1].The project was a massive undertaking, estimated to have cost the British Admiralty around £100,000[3].## LegacyThe Atlantic Neptune's influence extended well beyond its initial publication:- Its charts were often copied and reissued by American and European cartographers[4].- During the American Revolution, Des Barres added maps and plans of important battles and battlefields to the Neptune[4].- The atlas continues to be valued by historians and cartographers for its detailed depiction of 18th-century North America.Today, various institutions hold copies of The Atlantic Neptune, including the Library of Congress, which possesses over twenty individual volumes[1].Citations:[1] https://blogs.loc.gov/maps/2020/08/the-atlantic-neptune-an-unparalleled-collection-of-british-nautical-charts/ [2] https://collections.leventhalmap.org/exhibits/11 [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Neptune [4] https://bostonraremaps.com/inventory/atlantic-neptune-forts-montgomery-and-clinton-1779/ [5] https://www.loc.gov/item/75332506/ [6] https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/1984https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-s-the-history-of-the-atla-I02ZWl8AQOuvZW3Azd8Wjg
