1822 Admiralty Chart (No 636) of the Cape of Good Hope

Admiralty Chart No. 636, Survey of the Cape of Good Hope, surveyed in 1822 by Lieut. Vidal of H.M.S. Leven under Capt. W.F.W Owen, is among the earliest systematic British hydrographic surveys of the Cape, produced soon after the Admiralty Hydrographic Office was established and Britain had formally secured the Cape Colony in 1814. Covering the coastline from Cape Point to Table Bay, the chart extends across False Bay to include Cape Hangklip on its eastern side, while also plotting Robben Island in Table Bay—features critical to navigation around the Cape Peninsula. It provides detailed soundings, anchorages, shoals, and hazards, with coastal landmarks like Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the Peninsula headlands carefully drawn and supplemented by engraved coastal profiles to guide visual navigation. Engraved on copper in the early Admiralty style, it features dense fathom soundings, rhumb lines, and notes on currents and prevailing winds, reflecting the practical needs of Royal Navy and merchant shipping on the India route. The inclusion of Simon’s Bay, already identified as a safer winter anchorage than Table Bay, further underscores the chart’s strategic importance. Beyond its navigational utility, Chart 636 symbolized Britain’s growing naval supremacy and scientific precision in the early 19th century, and today it endures as a valuable maritime artifact of the Age of Empire.

This map is a reproduction of a historical map that is now in the public domain. It has been selected for its aesthetic appeal and historical interest and carefully restored and reproduced to preserve its original detail and character.  There may be marks and fold lines visible which add to the authentic look.  The map is printed on 230gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish.  Most old maps were printed on uncoated rag or wood pulp papers and therefore a matte finish best represents the original map.