Admiral Norris´ rare chart Passage of Stockholm
Klubbat för:
Osåld
Utropspris
15 000-20 000 SEK
Beskrivning
NORRIS, JOHN. A Large Draught of the Passage of Stockholm from Suderarmen to the Doller´s Castle. No date or year (probably 2nd edition, London 1728).
Large engraved seachart with title About 630x675 mm. Some folds, minor spotting.
Compare Shirley, British Library M.NORR-1a (1723) and 1b (1756).
With names like Dollers-Castle = Dalarö skans, Suderarmen = Söderarm, Fursund, Wexholm, Duer haven = Djurö, Capleshaur = Kapellskär.
Chart from the rare maritime atlas of the North sea and Baltic, which admiral Norris compilated from the observations of the officers of the British squadron operating in Baltic waters. The atlas named: A compleat sett of New Charts North Sea & Baltick, wherein the Headlands, Islands, Soundings, Banks, Shoals and Dangers are laid down in their proper Places, was first published in 1723. A second edition was published in London in 1728 by Mount and Page and a 3rd edition in 1756. "The charts reflect Admiral Norris´ experience in the Baltic gained over a number of years. All of the charts appear to be engraved by the same hand, possibly Emanuel Bowen". (Shirley).
There is no copies of the atlas in the Swedish Royal library or the Military Archives. The British Library holds the only copy of the first edition (1723) and of the third edition (1756), while the National Maritime Museum has the only copy of this second edition. The Royal Danish Library also holds one copy of the 2nd edition. Norris´ atlas was made practical use of and the charts was important for the trade with the politically sensitive regions in the North.
Sir John Norris (1660?-1749), nicknamed "Foulweather Jack", was an English admiral and hydrographer. In 1715 he was sent with a fleet to the Baltic Sea, officially to protect the English merchants, but in reality to pressure Sweden on account of Hannover, where George I was Elector. He fraternized in Reval with the Russians and got on friendly terms with tsar Peter, who offered him command of the Russian navy. However, in October that year he returned to England. In May 1716 he was again sent to Nordic waters with orders to prevent a possible Swedish attempt by Jacobite interests to conquer Scotland. After some hassles and various meetings with Danish, Russian and other ships, he set sail back home in November that year.
In 1717 he again negotiated with tsar Peter, now in Amsterdam, but without results. To the Baltic Sea he returned in 1718 with minor troops.
After the death of King Charles XII of Sweden, negotiations between George I and Sweden were initiated, and John Norris was now commissioned to prevent Russian ravages on Sweden´s east coast. By the time he got there, however, the Russians had already set back home, and Norris returned to England again.
He was sent on some further expeditions with the purpose of holding the Russians off Sweden´s back, the last one in 1727.
In 1734 he became Admiral of the Fleet and commander-in-chief.
In 1739, Norris was one of many founding governors for a new charitable venture in London, the Foundling Hospital, which sought to lessen the capital´s problem of child abandonment (Nordisk familjebok).
Provenance: From the estate of Dr Peter Wallenberg (1926-2015).
Auktionsnummer:
6283
Datum:
2016-12-20