Chart of the Ocean & Continental Basins, Ocean Currents and Co-Tidal Lines

Late 19th-century oceanography for adolescent pupils.

This vibrant hand-colored map of the world was published in Chicago by Rand McNally in the last quarter of the 19th century for inclusion in the company’s geography textbook, McNally’s Physical Geography. The primary image shows the drainage of continental basins according to the legend in the lower right, while major oceanic currents are outlined and labeled.

The Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean is interestingly depicted using symbols generally indicative of swampland – perhaps a purposeful reflection on the large body of ‘stagnant’ water. An inset in the lower center shows a simple ‘rain chart’ of the world that is broken into bands of periodical, frequent, constant, or rainless regions.