Boston Rare MapsSpecializing in rare, important and unusual American maps and prints
![GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR BUILDING FRIGATES OF THE FIRST CLASS. [This title revised in manuscript to read: GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR ReBUILDING the “Franklin”.] [Washington, D.C., ca 1853?] [with:] [Jesse Harrison] Whitehurst, Commodore Shubrick. Washington, D.C., [1850s?] Salt print, trimmed to an oval format, 7 3/8”h x 5 1/8”w, mounted on an 11 ½”h x 9 ½”w card with concentric gilt rules.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BRM4372-Rebuilding-the-USS-Franklin-beauty-shot_lowres-150x150.jpg)
An all-but unrecorded pamphlet of specifications for construction of an American first-class (heavy) frigate, heavily revised by a leading naval officer to govern the rebuilding of the fourth USS Franklin. The Franklin was in fact the fourth ship of that name commissioned by the U.S. Navy. Franklin IV, as I’ll refer to her, was a […]
A very rare chart of the world on the Mercator projection, heavily annotated by an American mariner to record a nearly quarter-century at sea. The title and scale of the chart indicate that it was designed as a “track-chart”, on which mariners could plot their long-distance voyages. For this purpose, the publisher has included engraved […]
The original manuscript record of the casualties on the USS Chesapeake during her June 1, 1813 defeat by the HMS Shannon. Compiled on the day of the battle and updating over the next several days. Following a challenge issued by British Captain Philip Broke, the USS Chesapeake, under Captain James Lawrence, met the HMS Shannon in a single-battle off […]
![[Manuscript signal book for the USS Chesapeake, taken by a British sailor after the Chesapeake was captured by the HMS Shannon in 1813]](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BRM4155-USS-Chesapeake-signal-book-1813_image-1_lowres-150x150.jpg)
An extremely rare War of 1812-era manuscript signal book from the USS Chesapeake, captured when the Chesapeake was taken by the HMS Shannon on June 1, 1813. Following a challenge issued by British Captain Philip Broke, the USS Chesapeake, under Captain James Lawrence, met the HMS Shannon in a single-battle off Boston on June 1, […]
Ten striking propaganda Newsmaps published by the U.S. War Department during the Second World War, covering roughly the period between the surrenders of Nazi Germany and Japan. Unusual in being accompanied by their original War Department mailing envelope. This run of Newsmaps is not continuous, but all were issued between May 7 and August 13, […]
A mammoth and colorful ” Nav War Map ” issued by the U.S. Navy Department near the end of World War II. This impressive, separately-published propaganda map was produced to emphasize the vast scale on which the U.S Navy operated during the Second World War. It gives particular attention to the Navy’s role in protecting the […]
A mammoth and unique collection of pictorial route maps commemorating the travels and experiences of individual American military units during the Second World War, most or all produced in-theatre by soldiers for their fellow soldiers. An inventory and scans of the full set of 121 maps can be provided on request. Units of all sizes […]
A rare print of an American naval “victory” of sorts. In early May of 1811 the U.S. frigate President under Captain John Rodgers was sent in search of the Guerriere, which had recently stopped and boarded the American brig Spitfire and impressed a native-born American. On the evening of May 15-16 (not the 11th as stated […]
A spectacular pictorial map designed to convey United States’ military might and preparedness, published as war raged in Europe but prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Recently featured in two important volumes on 20th-century mapping, Curtis and Pedersen’s War Map: Pictorial Conflict Maps 1900-1950 and Hornsby’s Picturing America: The Golden Age of Pictorial […]
![[ Wasp and Frolic ] J. J. Barralett del. / S. Seymour sculp., Capture of H.B.M. Sloop of War FROLIC 22 Guns Capt Whinyates By the U.S. Sloop of War WASP 18 Guns, Capt. Jones, After an action of FORTYFIVE Minutes. Philadelphia: W. H Morgan, [ND].](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BRM3347-Barralett-Wasp-and-Frolic_lowres-scaled-e1589904066434-150x150.jpg)
A rare aquatint view of the climax of the iconic War of 1812 naval engagement between the Wasp and Frolic, engraved in aquatint after a painting by John James Barralett. The War of 1812 began with the United States Navy apparently outmatched in every way by its British counterpart. Yet the first year of the […]