(Map / Chart Thames, Spanish Armada, Military History): Thamesis Descriptio Anno 1588. Roberto Adamo authore. Engraved from a copy drawn by Mr. Joseph Ames 8th April 1738 from the Original in Parchment by Pine, John (Adams, Robert) - 1740

London: J. Pine , 1740. Very good condition, highly decorative chart with elaborate upper cartouche with armorial, lion and griffin. There is a lower cartouche, in the midline, with an English scale. This seems to be early color, on heavy laid paper, with nice margins, image measuring 15.75x26.5 inches. There are remnants of two small archival mounting stubs in the upper front corners, nowhere near the neatline and not constituting any serious visual distraction. This is a very uncommon chart from Pine's "The Tapestry Hangings of the House of Lords..", published in 1740 (a year later than the original compilation). The actual copyright date on this chart, in the right lower corner, is 1740. Pine's original publication had 10 sea coast chart, and this particular chart of the Thames was often missing, so this is a very uncommon and highly attractive item. Lord Effingham, commander of the British fleet that defeated the Armada, had commissioned Adams to produce this series of charts representing various battle phases. HC Vroom was commissioned to produce the original tapestry designs, which were woven by Francis Spiring of Harlem. Almost all the tapestries were burned in the Westminster Palace fire of 1834. London appears to the far right of the river chart, and there is a decorative 16 point compass rose just above the city location. The CD version of the DNB states: " In 1739 Pine published another work of great interest, entitled ‘The Tapestry Hangings of the House of Lords, representing the several engagements between the English and Spanish Fleets in the ever-memorable Year mdlxxxviii,’ with portraits, charts of the coasts of England, medals, &c. As these valuable tapestries, executed by H. C. Vroom to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish armada, were subsequently destroyed by fire, Pine's engravings, done from drawings by C. Lempriere, are of the greatest historical value.".