COAST OF ARGENTINA 1748 ANSON UNUSUAL ANTIQUE ORIGINAL COPPER ENGRAVED VIEW

A View of the Land of Patagonia a little to the northward of Port St. Julian.

Description: Striking and highly detailed fine unusual 1748 George Anson's copper panoramic view of the coast of Patagonia, a little to the northward of Puerto San Julian, Argentina. Anson's fleet sailing along the South American coast complete the view. 
 
The Anson Expedition: Between 1740 and 1744, during the war against Spain, George Anson led a British fleet in the Pacific. The mission culminated with the capture of the extremely rich Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Covadonga, laden with silver and secret nautical maps.

Source: George Anson, Baron. A Voyage Round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV...Compiled from Papers and other Materials of the Right Honourable George Lord Anson, and published under his Direction, By Richard Walter, M.A. Chaplain of his Majesty's Ship the Centurion, in that Expedition. Illustrated with Forty-Two Copper-Plates. London: Printed for the Author; by John and Paul Knapton, 1748.
 
References: Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974: 1817; Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967: 1626; Shirley, R. Maps in the Atlases of The British Library. London 2004 : G.ANS-1a., RCIN 1072004.

Date: 1748 ( undated )

Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 46 x 25,5

Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with chains and wiremarks. Map uncolored. Small foxing and browning. Map folded. Conditions are as you can see in the images.

Mapmakers: Baron George Anson (23 April 1697 - 6 June 1762) was a British commodore and a wealthy noble. Following Anson's aristocratic upbringing on the family estate of Shugborough in Sataffordshire, he joined the British Navy. Anson went through a series of rapid promotions and, in 1737, was given command of a fleet of six ships charged with the mission of attacking Spanish possessions in South America. This mission was ill-equipped and unprepared for the trials ahead. Storms and navigational errors took a heavy toll on the expedition. By the time Anson reached the island of Juan Fernandez his fleet had been diminished to only three ships and his crew reduced to roughly 1/3 of its original strength. Nonetheless, Anson's persistence eventually led to the capture of an immensely rich price, the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Senora de Covadonga. The galleon, taken off of Cape Espiritu Santo in 1743 was loaded with silver bullion and, more importantly, charts and maps detailing the routes between Mexico and the Far East used by the Spanish for over 200 years. Knowledge of this route enabled the British navy to disrupt Spanish trade in the Pacific and thus weaken its stranglehold on the Americas. Upon his return to England Anson was hailed as a national hero and made immensely wealthy by his share of the Nuestra's treasure. Anson retired from the Navy for a career in politics and was a Member of Parliament from 1744 to 1747. Anson subsequently continued his naval career with distinction as an administrator, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty (1757-1762). Seven British warships have borne the name HMS Anson in his honor. Anson County, North Carolina, and Ansonborough in Charleston, South Carolina, are also named in Anson's honor.