Lot 08004

HOBBS John Stratton, WILSON Charles (engr.), [MANGANARI Egor], “The Black Sea, &c. Chiefly from the Russian surveys. Compiled by J.S. Hobbs F.R.G.S. Hydrographer. 1858 / Published… Janu. 1st 1857, by Charles Wilson (late J. W. Norie & Wilson) at the Navigation Warehouse & Naval Academy No 157, Leadenhall Street”.

Impressive and extremely rare wall map/chart of the Black Sea and its main ports measuring 199 cm x 85 cm.

The main map frame depicts the Black Sea and adjacent regions, extending from Lemnos to the SW to Rostov to NE. The main map is framed by 33 inset maps of principal geographical regions and ports of the Black Sea: The Bosphorus or Channel of Constantinople, Odessa, Varna, Fidonisi or Serpenti, Yniada Road, Kustenjeh anchorage, Sinoub [Sinope], Kertch Strait, Bender-Erekli [Heraclea], Amastra [Amastris], Cherzeh [Carusa], Samsoun [Amisus], Ounieh [Oenoe], Balaklava Bay, Mouths of Dniestr Bay, Trebizond, Platana, Akmechet, R. Danube. Mouths of the Kila branch, R. Danube Soulina branch, Yalta & Ourzouf roads, Sevastopol Harbour, Kinburn, Odessa to Nikolaev, Kherson, Kaffa, Gulf of Bourghaz, Anapa, Ghelenjik, Soujak Bay, Batoum, Gulf of Azov to Taganrog, Gulf of Bourghaz, Gulf of Azov to Taganrog, The Dardanelles [Hellespont].  Also included views from the sea of: “Varna from the Entrance of the Bay”, “Bosphorus from the Black Sea” & “Odessa SW by W”. The plans of the ports are including the depiction of buildings and main land and human-made features of the landscape.

The map was issued just after the Crimean War (1853-1856) and it is a result of the collaborations of the British hydrographer John Stratton Hobbs (1813-1874) and Charles Wilson (1807-1882), a collaboration that has produced a number of cartographic products of great significance, accuracy and rareness throughout the third quarter of the 19th century.

As noted to the title, the map is based on the “Russian surveys”, referring to the monumental survey undertaken by the Greek origins Admiral Egor Manganari (1796-1868) of the Russian navy that was concluded after more than 10 years of measurements in the broad geographical region of the Black Sea. The result of this survey was published to St Petersburg and the Nikolaev Russian Hydographic Department in 1841 under the title “Atlas Chernago Moria” and is considered the first scientific hydrographic survey of the area. This is not the first time that Hobbs is dealing with this geographic area, as 10 years earlier has published his “New Sailing Directions for the Dardanelles, Sea of Marmara, Bosporus, Black Sea and the Sea of Azov compiled chiefly from the surveys of E. Taitbout de Marigny” (London 1847).

Map initially attached on blue carton paper, restored in the past with carton strips reinforcing the back. Recently restored with paper reinforcement along joints and folds, small paper loss with paper addition.

Only one copy tracked: Royal Museums Greenwich collections (ID: G236:1/4)

Extremely Rare.