This handsome chart focuses on a portion of County Cork in southwest Ireland, where the River Bandon meets the Bay of Old Head. The fishing village of Kinsale is prominently featured as a dense cluster of buildings in the shadow of Compass Hill. Across the River Bandon is an Old Fort, with a new, larger fort depicted down the river, past Summers Cove. Various other coves are located along the coast, as are sites of interest such as the lighthouse at Old Head, Fishing Pallace, Ruines of a Forte, and Lord Courcyes House. Within the water there are numerous soundings and hazards, as well as a compass rose capped with a fleur-de-lis that radiates rhumb lines and orients north to the lower right corner. Cannons and flags jut from an elaborate cartouche flanked by putti that encloses a dedication to Sir Robert Southwell. Engraved by J. Harris.

In 1681 Capt. Greenville Collins (fl.1669-1694) an officer in the Royal Navy was appointed by the Admiralty to make a complete survey of the coasts of Great Britain. Prior to this date the charts used by English mariners were copies of Dutch charts that had many inaccuracies. The task of surveying the entire coasts was formidable and took about 7 years, at the end of which only 46 surveys were finally used in an atlas titled "Great Britain's Coasting-Pilot Being a New and Exact Survey of the Sea-Coast of England," which was first published in 1693.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) M.COLL-1c #29; Verner (MCC-58) #49.

Condition: B+

Heavy paper with very light surface soil.