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Description

Rare separately published sailing chart of the English Channel, published by the French Royal mapmaker Jean Beaurain in 1760.

The map is ringed with various scientific objects and diagrams, including:

  • The offshore and tidal currents and their visual representation on the chart with arrows.
  • Ancient and modern nautical logs (used to approximate the speed of a vessel over water).
  • The use of the mariner's crosstaff (l'Arbalestre) for measuring the altitude of the sun.
  • The ship's wake or 'sillage'.
  • The sounding lead (la sonde) for measuring water depth and the composition of the sea floor.
  • The planisphere and a description of the earth's rotation.
  • A simple astrolabe.
  • The compass and compass card. 

This is the first edition of the map.  The second edition, issued in 1778, is far more common.