1880 Map of Table Bay

The 1880 map of Table Bay, published in J.R. McCulloch’s Dictionary, Practical, Theoretical and Historical of Commerce and Commercial Navigation, is a small, utilitarian plate focused on Table Bay’s hydrography: it delineates Table Bay and Robben Island with depth soundings across the bay, and sketches key landmarks—Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Devil’s Peak, and Salt River—as coastal and inland references for mariners. It serves as a practical locator for ships approaching the anchorage rather than a town or port-development plan, reflecting the dictionary’s commercial-navigational purpose and late-Victorian preference for concise, serviceable cartography. The inclusion of this map in McCulloch’s globally distributed reference work underscored Cape Town’s enduring significance as Britain’s maritime outpost and trading hub — linking Europe, Asia, and the resource-rich interior newly awakened by the diamond boom at Kimberley.  

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.