Chart of the English Channel – John Russell
Price range: £35.55 through £59.95
Chart of the English Channel by John Russell, 1803
This detailed chart places the English Channel at the centre of a busy maritime world. Shipping routes cross between British, Irish and continental ports, while coastal towns, offshore banks and the Channel Islands fill the surrounding waters with interest. With its coloured coastlines and circular title cartouche, it makes a distinctive fine-art print for anyone drawn to coastal history, sailing or the connections between Britain and France.
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Authentic Old Map Paper & Accurate Colour Reproduction
Paper choice is essential to the authenticity of our maps. We use specially sourced 190gsm paper made in the UK from pure materials and traditionally pressed with natural woollen felts. This process creates a subtle, randomly textured surface that closely resembles an original antique document. Likewise the use of premium quality ink fully saturates the paper, producing remarkable clarity, depth, and historical character. Colour fastness and sharpness will remain good for in excess of 100 years!
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Historical Background
Drawn and engraved by John Russell and published in London in November 1803, this chart appeared during renewed war between Britain and France. Alongside its maritime geography, it includes a chronological list of landings and invasions, linking the practical business of crossing the sea with the historical vulnerability of Britain’s coasts.
Map Details
- Original title: Chart of the British Channel with the Opposite Coast of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of France
- Draughtsman and engraver: John Russell
- Publisher: J. Stratford, Holborn Hill, London
- Date: 3 November 1803
- Area shown: The Channel, southern Britain, parts of Ireland and the continental coast
- Notable features: Sea routes, packet sailing schedules and a table of historical invasions
The chart extends well beyond the narrowest Channel crossing. Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and the Welsh coast appear alongside southern Ireland, Brittany and the Low Countries. Lines across the sea identify connections and distances between ports.
A separate table records the destinations and sailing times of packet services, including departures from Falmouth and Weymouth. These details show the sea as a working network carrying passengers and communications, while the invasion list gives the same geography a distinctly military significance.