The Office of Coast Survey is the oldest U.S. scientific organization, dating from 1807 when Congress directed that a "survey of the coast" be carried out. By 1836, it was called the U.S. Coast Survey and in 1878, the name was changed to the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Today the Office of Coast Survey is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA.

The survey teams, composed of civilians as well as Army and Naval officers, charted the nation's waterways and produced a wide array of reports, survey charts, hydrographic studies of tides and currents, astronomical studies and observations, and coastal pilots. These charts are an important record of the changing nature of the nation's coastlines. In additional to coastal charts, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey produced land sketches, Civil War battle maps, and the early aeronautical charts.

Two attractive charts depicting the Chesapeake Bay:

A. Preliminary Chart of Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and the Sea Coast from Cape Henlopen to Cape Charles from a Trigonometrical Survey..., (24.9 x 30.6"). A very detailed rendering of the entire Chesapeake Bay extending from Norfolk to Havre de Grace. The chart extends west to include small portions of the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers and east to include part of Delaware Bay up to Port Penn. Extensive navigational detail includes soundings, bottom types, tides, sailing directions and much more.

B. Preliminary Chart of Part of the Sea Coast of Virginia and Entrance to Chesapeake Bay from a Trigonometrical Survey..., (20.7 x 27.9"). This striking chart depicts the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay between Cape Henry and Cape Charles and extends to False Cape in the south and Metompkin in the north. The intricate details include scores of soundings, extensive sailing directions, bottom types, currents, and other navigational information. Featres a large inset map of the entrance to the bay at upper left.

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Condition: B+

Issued folding with light toning along the folds. Trimmed close to the borders at left by the binder.