Rare chart of Straits of Magellan, with an inset of southern South America, drawn from the discoveries on the expedition to Tierra del Fuego led by Sir John Narbrough. It is possible that the chart was drawn by Greenville Collins, the famous chartmaker and hydrographer, who participated in the expedition.
“In 1669 Narborough was commissioned by the Duke of York, on the instructions of Charles II, to explore the waters around Patagonia, the Strait of Magellan, the Chilean archipelago and the western coasts of North America as far as the north of California … His instructions were to make a study of the resources of the region and if possible to cultivate a trade with the Chilean Indians” (Howgego). Sailing on the Sweepstakes and Batchelor, Narbrough departed the Thames in September, 1669. With him were John Wood (who wrote the account), hydrographer Grenville Collins and a Spanish agent known only as Don Carlos. They spent the (southern hemisphere) winter of 1670 at Puerto Deseado (Argentina), though at that point some of his crew deserted the expedition taking the Batchelor and most of the supplies with it.
Narbrough sailed through the Straits of Magellan and in November 1670 and reached Valdivia (Chile) shortly thereafter where his overtures to the Chilean government were swiftly rebuffed to the point where a boat party was seized. At the point, the expedition returned to England. While the commercial aims of the voyage were unsuccessful , Narbrough “did, however, produce a new chart of the Strait of Magellan and carried out one of the first scientific studies of the indigenous population, inaugurating an era of research in southern South America that would last for a further two centuries” (ibid).
The map was advertised in the London Gazette for 29th March - 3rd April 1673. This is a second state, with the addition of ‘C. Quad’, on the north shore of the Strait, and ‘Royal road’. All the early states are very rare.
Black, Blathwayt Atlas, Map 42: state 2 (giving two locations); Howgego I, N3.
