Title: A Chart Of The Chesapeake And Delaware Bays Compiled And Published By Fielding Lucas Junr. Baltimore 1832.

Engraver: John and William W. Warr.

Dimensions: Sheet 107.7 x 74.4 cm.; plate 105 x 72.8 cm.; image 103 x 71.1 cm. Engraving. Hand colored.
 

A Chart Of The Chesapeake And Delaware Bays, 1832

Fielding Lucas is a well-known figure in Baltimore's history. He was a publisher, a bookdealer and a prominent citizen, and was involved in many projects for the betterment of the City of Baltimore and the State of  Maryland. In addition he was a very skillful draftsman, and drew maps throughout his life. He contributed numerous maps to the atlases of the Philadelphia publisher Mathew Carey. Later he published atlases himself, starting in 1814 with A New and Elegant General Atlas; his master-work is probably the General Atlas of 1823. Lucas' publishing of his own maps caused a break-up with Carey, but the dispute was eventually resolved, and Lucas resumed drawing maps for Carey's atlases as well.

The "Chart of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays" is a prime product of Fielding Lucas' refined craftsmanship. The chart includes soundings, the location of shoals, light boats and light houses, with short descriptions of the lights carried by the different boats. Two noteworthy features are the "Tide Tables" for the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and the series of views of Cape Henry, Smiths Point Light House, Windmill Point and Cape Henlopen. These views had appeared on Anthony De Mayne's "Survey of the Chesapeake" of 1814. The chart includes three scale bars, for use between 37 and 38 degrees, 38 and 39 degrees, and 39 and 40 degrees.

References:
S. Schwartz & R. Ehrenberg, 1980.

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