Untitled chart of coast from Newburyport, Mass. to Cape Elizabeth, Maine by Captain Joseph Frederick Wallet des Barres is an exeptional chart published in London in 1776.
 
This chart stands as an exemplary representation of what was considered the finest mapping of the New Hampshire and southern Maine coasts during its time. Originating in 1776 as part of The Atlantic Neptune, an influential atlas widely utilized by British captains during the Revolutionary War, these charts retained their prestige long after. Their accuracy and detail were so highly regarded that they continued to be employed for decades, frequently reproduced by both American and European engravers and publishers.
 
This specific chart covers the New England coastline from Newbury Harbor to Cape Elizabeth, offering a level of inland detail unparalleled in contemporary printed maps. Beyond the coastal features, it includes bodies of water, elevated areas, roads, and even individual structures. The map's exceptional detail and accuracy make it a valuable historical document, providing insight into both maritime navigation during the Revolution and the broader geographical and structural aspects of the New England region at that time.
 
Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres (1721-1824) was a Canadian cartographer born in Switzerland. His academic journey led him to study under the renowned mathematician Daniel Bernoulli at the University of Basel before relocating to Britain, where he underwent training at the Royal Military College, Woolwich. Engaging in military service during the 1756 hostilities with France, Des Barres drew the attention of General James Wolfe, who admired his charting skills. Collaborating with the future explorer James Cook, he contributed to a monumental chart of the St. Lawrence River. Des Barres gained lasting recognition for the Atlantic Neptune, a remarkable multi-volume collection of sea charts and coastal views. Overseen by Des Barres in Nova Scotia after the Seven Years’ War, these works, created with the assistance of up to twenty engravers and assistants, played a crucial role for the Royal Navy in the American Revolution. Post-Revolution, Des Barres served as lieutenant governor of Cape Breton Island (1784-1787) and later as governor of Prince Edward Island (1804-1812). Living to the remarkable age of 102, he was laid to rest in Halifax after his funeral at St. George's Round Church in 1824.
 
This chart is in excellent condition.