United States - Caribbean / West Indies Haiti; U.S.S. Eagle (Equipaggio della nave idrografica della Marina degli Stati Uniti) - Tortuga Island to St. Marc Channel - 1901-1920

Rare Antique Nautical Chart (1912) – Haiti: From Tortuga Island to Saint-Marc Channel – U.S.S. Eagle / U.S. Hydrographic Office (Cat. No. 2645)

A splendid and authentic example of an antique hydrographic and topographic nautical chart, officially published by the U.S. Hydrographic Office.
The map documents the northwestern coast of the island of Haiti with extraordinary precision, detailing the strategic area between Tortuga Island (a historic refuge for pirates and privateers), the Gulf of Gonâve (or Léogane), and Saint-Marc Channel.
The cartographic data and marine depths are the result of scientific hydrographic surveys conducted in the field by the historic U.S. Navy vessel U.S.S. Eagle between 1905 and 1908.
At the edge of the map is an exceptionally rare, crisp official red-ink stamp from the Hydrographic Office, dated April 13, 1912 (the same historic month and year as the Titanic’s maiden voyage), certifying its approval and the final corrections made before distribution to mariners.

Technical and Cartographic Details

• Publisher: U.S. Hydrographic Office (United States Navy Hydrographic Office).
• Year of Publication/Validation: April 13, 1912 (based on surveys conducted from 1905 to 1908).
• Catalog/Reference Number: Official archive code 2645, written in blue pencil in the original handwriting of the period and used for quick filing in naval chart drawers.
• Geographic Area: West Indies, Northwest Coast of Haiti (Tortuga Island, Gonâve Island, St. Marc Channel).
• Notable Graphic Features:
• Two large, spectacular compass roses (magnetic compasses) graduated in the center of the gulf, complete with indications of annual magnetic variation.
• Dense bathymetric annotations (depths expressed in fathoms).
• Topographic depiction of the mainland and Gonâve Island, with precise contour lines and mountainous terrain.
• Official Hydrographic Office crest printed in the title section• Overall condition: Good/Fair, considering the age and intended use of the item (an authentic naval chart-room document).
• Signs of age: It has the natural folds from the original publication (from storage in naval chart drawers), slight yellowing of the paper, and minor signs of wear or small tears along the folds and edges. These do not affect the chart’s legibility in the slightest and give it exceptional historical charm (authentic patina).
• Please examine the attached photographs carefully; they form an integral part of the description and show the lot’s exact condition.

Why Buy It

This lot represents a piece of early 20th-century maritime history in the Caribbean. Perfect for framing, it is a high-end decorative addition to professional offices, boats, coastal homes, or private collections of American cartography or U.S. Navy memorabilia.