1950 Admiralty Nautical Map of Puerto Rico w/ interesting notations

Description

1950 Admiralty Nautical Map of Puerto Rico w/ interesting notations
WE SELL ONLY ORIGINAL ANTIQUE MAPS - NOT REPRODUCTIONS
Title:
West Indies. Puerto Rico.
Description:
This is a 1950 British Admiralty nautical chart or maritime map of Puerto Rico featuring manuscript notations detailing military exercises and underwater ammunition dumps. The chart depicts the region from Mona Island to St. Thomas and St. Croix and from 19 degrees north latitude to almost 17 degrees north latitude.
Manuscript Notations - Ammunition Dumps?
The manuscript annotations are by far the most compelling aspect of this chart. Two boxes drawn in red ink, one above Puerto Rico and one below, read 'Dumping Ground (Ammunition)'. After World War II, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia elected to dump unused munitions and chemical weapons into the ocean and some of these events were not well documented. A 2009 report from the U.S. Department of Defense recognized two dumping grounds near Puerto Rico, which may be the two marked on this map. Today, hundreds of thousands of unexploded ordnance sit on the ocean floor and have washed up on shore or injured fishermen that come into contact with them in nets.
Manuscript Notations - Military Exercises
Two manuscript notations in pencil along the top border describe military exercises in the area. One notes a machine gun practice area that would happen daily between 0800 and 1600 (8 A.M. to 4 P.M.) except on Saturday and Sunday. The second, written in both French and English, notes that anti-submarine operations would be held in the area between August 10 and August 18, 1950.
The Chart Itself
A highly detailed chart, myriad depth soundings are present along the coast of Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Passage and the Mona Passage. A paste-down above Puerto Rico notes that the 100-fathom line in farther to the north than charted on the map. Other manuscript notations mark coastal lights and other locations. Points, bays, and other coastal features are noted.
Publication History
This chart was originally engraved in 1904 and republished by the Admiralty in 1927. Numerous subsequent additions and corrections have been made, up through the manuscript additions in 1950.
Size:
Printed area measures 27.25 inches high by 39.75 inches wide.
Condition:
Very good. Even overall toning. A couple of minor wormholes near centerfold. Light wear along original centerfold. Blank on verso.
Shipping:
Shipping rates are not negotiable. Items are shipped within three business days of receiving payment. We are happy to consolidate shipping where possible. The following shipping options are available:
1. FedEx Overnight (45 USD). USA Only. Signature Required.
2. FedEx Ground or Home Delivery (15 USD). USA Only. 1 - 10 days. If your address is a P.O. Box and cannot ship FedEx we will ship USPS Priority and, while we ship promptly, recent postal personnel cutbacks mean that delivery may take time. Signature Required.
3. FedEx International or DHL International EXPRESS (45 USD).
4. We can use your FedEx Account.
Customs:
International buyers are responsible for paying duty and taxes on delivery. DHL or FedEx will contact the buyer by telephone to arrange tax payment if it is levied. Duty varies by country and we cannot predict the amount you will be charged. Some countries are duty free, others are not. Typically, a customs duty and/or VAT tax will be assessed on all parcels to continental Europe. Sometimes duty or tax is due in China, but is seems very random. Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and Taiwan have never assessed duty on a map we shipped. Maps shipped to the UK should be duty free as educational materials, but from time to time duty of 5% is assessed incorrectly by the UK customs agents.
Insurance:
All shipments are insured privately against loss and damage. All of our shipments require a signature for insurance purposes.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us through eBay.
Other Services
Conservation Framing:
Geographicus recommends basic conservation framing services for any antique paper. We do not offer this service.
Antique Map Restoration:
Geographicus can repair and restore your antique map. Services include deacidification cleaning flattening and backing.
BEWARE anyone attempting to contact you, from a different eBay account, claiming to represent Geographicus Antique Maps. My eBay handle is GeographicusMaps. If you are contacted by email by someone offering you my items, please call me directly to be certain you are not dealing with a con artist.
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