José Custodio de Sá e Faria (active mid-18th century). Plano...Costa del Brasil. 1776

José Custodio de Sá e Faria (active mid-18th century)
Plano de la Ysla y P[ue]rto de Sta. Cathalina, en la Costa del Brasil
Cadiz: Spanish Hydrographic Office, 1776
Copperplate sea chart
Sheet size: 22 x 15 inches

A rare Spanish nautical chart of the island and port of Santa Catarina (modern-day Florianópolis) off the southern coast of Brazil, this map exemplifies the growing strategic and scientific interest in South American coastal territories during the late colonial period. Based on a 1757 survey by the Spanish naval officer Don Estevan Álvarez del Fierro and engraved in 1776, it was published by the Dirección de Hidrografía in Cádiz for official maritime use.

The chart details soundings, anchorages, reefs, and coastal contours with precision, reflecting the Spanish crown’s effort to rival Portuguese dominance in the region by enhancing its own hydrographic intelligence. The coast of the mainland (marked Tierra Firme Parte del Brasil) and the island itself (Sta. Cathalina) are shown in fine relief, with mountains rendered in profile at the top—a stylistic convention of 18th-century coastal profiles. An inset index lists prominent features, including ports, rivers, and forts, serving both navigators and military planners.

This is not only a technical accomplishment but also a political artifact, capturing Spain’s aspirations and presence in a contested colonial theater. Charts such as this would have informed naval operations, trade routes, and geopolitical strategy during the final decades of the Iberian empires in the Americas.