Mark Tideman (fl. 1790–1815). A Chart of New York Harbour. 1812

Mark Tideman (fl. 1790–1815)
A Chart of New York Harbour with the Banks, Soundings and Sailing-marks
London, circa 1812
Copperplate engraving
Sheet size: 29 x 21 inches

This crisp and technically precise early 19th-century sea chart depicts New York Harbor and its approaches, rendered by British hydrographer J.F.W. Tideman. It reflects the increasing sophistication of British naval cartography during the Napoleonic era and is a continuation of the Admiralty’s interest in strategic ports along the American seaboard, especially after the American Revolution.

The chart details Sandy Hook, Staten Island, the Narrows, lower Manhattan, Long Island, and the surrounding coastal geography, all annotated with depth soundings, shoals, anchorages, and sailing lines. Unlike the more decorative earlier works of Des Barres, Tideman’s map is stripped down, prioritizing clarity and function over embellishment.

It served as a practical navigational tool during a time of renewed British-American tensions leading up to the War of 1812, when the Royal Navy maintained extensive knowledge of North American waters.