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Plano de las Yslas Malvinas cituadas en el mar del Sur by [Puig, Joseph Antonio, pilot] - 1770

by [Puig, Joseph Antonio, pilot]

Plano de las Yslas Malvinas cituadas en el mar del Sur by [Puig, Joseph Antonio, pilot] - 1770

Plano de las Yslas Malvinas cituadas en el mar del Sur

by [Puig, Joseph Antonio, pilot]

  • Used

Early manuscript chart of the Falklands. [c.1770]. Manuscript in ink and wash colour; watermark of "Konig & Son", marginal restorations virtually not affecting, excellent condition overall. 730 mm x 530 mm.

Stunning manuscript survey of the Falkland Islands coasts, one of the earliest known, of high artistic craftsmanship and historically important.

The Falklands are an archipelago located c.400km off the coast of Argentina; it is composed of two larger islands (Isla de la Soledad and Gran Malvinas) and several smaller ones, both larger islands are well depicted on this chart. It is currently under British management, however its sovereignty has been disputed by Argentina since 1833, and has lead to armed conflict. The history of the islands goes back to the first decades of American exploration –with several claims of sighting, from John Davis in 1592 and Sir Richard Hawkins in 1594, however the first confirmed one being that of Sebald de Weert in 1600-, although uncharted and unsettled until the second half of the 18th century, when explorers Byron and Bougainville almost simultaneously claimed them for their respective countries. Bougainville’s settling ended up with the French leaving the islands after Spain’s claim; the British however, lead by John Byron, founded Port Edgmond [a.k.a. Santa Catalina, see Torres Lanzas, nº 86]. The Spanish later became aware of their presence, which again occasioned frictions between governments and raised the possibility of war. In 1833, the British reoccupied the islands permanently –with the exception of a short period in 1982.

Drawn after a running performed by Joseph Antonio Puig in July 1770. Puig was the pilot aboard the San Francisco de Paula [a.k.a. La Catalana], a bergantin commanded by Manuel Pando. As a side note, it would be him as well who contributed to the mysterious Pepys island history, claiming to have sighted it and baptized it the Catalana. This voyage took Puig from Montevideo to the Falklands and back. The enterprise was seemingly on behalf of the Rl. Compa. de Comercio de Barcelona desde Buenos Ayres, the track marked on this chart in red. Torres Lanzas in his "" at the Archivo General de Indias, catalogues two similar maps, none of which are of this quality. On a map located at the Biblioteca Nacional de España, entitled "Plano de las Yslas Malvinas situadas en la latitude de 51 grados 28 minutos y en 316 grados 30 minutos", ordered by Phelipe Ruiz Puente, we see a much primitive rendering of the islands, which are charted rudimentarily, although the cartouche explains they contain the last explorations done by land and sea. It is catalogued as c.1769 and reflects the Spanish expeditions done between 1768 and 1769 to locate the English settlement of Port Edgmont.

The map is beautifully made and cartographically accurate, it features a numbered key to the straits, bays, adjacent islands and other points of interest. Iconographically an interesting map, the artist decorated it with two drawings opposing themselves, the first being the portrait of a lady holding a scale and the second a settler seating by a fire heating coffee or some beverage, background with a seal, whales and a turtle. The centre of the map features the Spanish Lion in threatening posture. Two cartouches at the upper right and left corners feature coastal profiles. Provenance, there is an unidentified wax seal on the map, title and number on verso.

Torres Lanzas, Relacion descriptiva de los mapas, planos, etc. del Virreinato de Buenos Aires, 1921, nº 69, 82, 86, 89.