Beschreibung:

NICARAGUA -- Descripcion del Rio Tinto y del de Mustees.. , 1789. Spanish manuscript plan of the Costa de Mosquitos, the east coast of Nicaragua, from the Rio Tinto to the Rio Mustees, black ink and colours on paper laid down on silk, with cotton ties (36.8 x 68.5cm.), sea, lakes and rivers in green, buildings, including the village of Rio Tinto, forts and farms in red, sugarcane plantations shown in green, compass point and scalebar. (Slight wear along original folds, two small tears to left edge), rolled. This decorative map shows a section of the Mosquito Coast soon after the British lost their foothold on the Carribean coast following the Battle of Nicaragua in 1783. The native inhabitants, the Miskito Indians, had formed an alliance with the British in 1687, the 'Miskito Kingdom' becoming a British Protectorate. In their attempt to keep the Spanish from gaining influence along the Atlantic coast, both the Indians and British built forts which are shown here. HONDURAS -- Plano de la Bahia y Puerto de Omoa , 1769 Spanish manuscript plan of the Bay and Port of Omoa, Honduras, black ink, wash and colours on paper laid down on silk, silk ties (35.5 x 64.8cm.), sea and river inlets in green, land and trees in green with contours indicated in grey wash, buildings and fort marked in red, depth soundings given, fleur-de-lys compass point and rhumb-lines, key and scalebar. (Occasional light surface wear). Inscribed 'No.2', lower left, rolled. An attractive plan of the fortress of San Fernando de Omoa, built by the Spanish during the 17th century to protect the coast and shipments of silver bound for Spain from the mines of Tegucigalpa. This huge fortress with its impressive structure was considered one of the most important in the Caribbean and is today a National Monument. PANAMA -- Plano del Castillo de San Lorenzo de Chagre y sus immediacion , 31 December 1795. Spanish manuscript plan of the Castle of San Lorenzo and the mouth of the Chagres River, on the Carribean coast of Panama, black ink, wash and colours on paper laid down on silk, cotton ties, a section of the fort overlaid with additional paper plan to show its two stories, (40.3 x 61.5cm.), rivers in green, land and trees in green with grey wash indicating contours, fort and associated buildings indicated in various colours, detailed key, scalebar. Signed by Antonio de Arebalo; inscribed, 'No. 3', rolled. A detailed and decorative plan with an extensive explanation of the fortifications of the Castle of San Lorenzo. By the date of this map, 1795, the castle had been rebuilt three times. A fortress had originally been built on this site in 1588 on the orders of Philip II of Spain to defend this strategic site. It was destroyed in 1670 by the British pirate Henry Morgan, rebuilt in 1680 and destroyed again by Admiral Vernon in 1740. The Castle shown here was built in 1761. NICARAGUA -- Plano del Rio Tintio o Piche situade en la costa de Mosquitos Provincia de Nicaragua , [late 18th Century] Spanish manuscript plan of the mouth of the River Tinto on the Mosquito Coast, north east Nicaragua, blkack ink and wash on paper, two sheets joined and laid down on larger sheet (30.2 x 42.6cm.), rivers in green, forts, bridges, villages, soundings marked, compass point and scale-bar, larger sheet inscribed '2°7.' (Small area of light spotting). A detailed plan of the area surrounding the mouth of the Rio Tinto, showing three forts and the villages of the Miskito Indians, the Sambos and the Piche. The naming of these villages reflects the varying identification of the region's indiginous people in colonial history. From 1687 the Miskito Indians formed an alliance with the British, both parties wanting to keep the Spanish from gaining influence on the Atlantic coast. (4)