![Aizpurua, Benito, Parte Del Rio De La Plata [together with] Plano del Puerto de la Ensenada de Barragan, 1825. [Buenos Aires].](https://static-assets.artlogic.net/w_1600,h_1600,c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/artlogicstorage/hsrarebooks/images/view/7aac32a66077d8e71b5b500ae2a201b4j/hsrarebooks-aizpurua-benito-parte-del-rio-de-la-plata-together-with-plano-del-puerto-de-la-ensenada-de-barragan-1825.-buenos-aires-..jpg)
![Aizpurua, Benito, Parte Del Rio De La Plata [together with] Plano del Puerto de la Ensenada de Barragan, 1825. [Buenos Aires].](https://static-assets.artlogic.net/w_1600,h_1600,c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/artlogicstorage/hsrarebooks/images/view/de708d78b34ae90fbb4edfbce7939d74j/hsrarebooks-aizpurua-benito-parte-del-rio-de-la-plata-together-with-plano-del-puerto-de-la-ensenada-de-barragan-1825.-buenos-aires-..jpg)
Aizpurua, Benito
Extremely rare pair of manuscript charts of the River Plate, prepared by the first pilot of Argentina, probably made in preparation of his Carta esferica del Rio de la Plata en la America del Sur (ca. 1826), engraved by Besnes Irigoyen and compiled by Oyarbide. The first chart shows the widest side of River Plate, identifying the towns and settlements on the shores; as a navigational aid it is invaluable, showing the depths and banks, with the locations of the shipwrecks. The second one focuses on the Barragan Ensenada, previously the landing site of the British for the invasions to Buenos Aires; the detail and precision with which is made is remarkable, and clearly the work of an experienced pilot and chart maker, with access to sources of navigational information of the River Plate.
Manuscript maps in ink on hand made Whatman paper, only faint traces of soiling, else very good. 510 mm x 690 mm & 510 mm x 590 mm.
Aizpurua (1774 – 1833) was a Spanish navy officer and pilot; he moved to Buenos Aires at a young age, the city still being the seat of the Viceroyalty of La Plata. Once there he was appointed as pilot of the Bergatin Tigre and began his cartographic activities mapping the region. During the wars of independence he sided with the revolutionaries and stayed in Buenos Aires; his knowledge of the region –he having mapped a large portion of it- and his understanding of hydrographical reality and navigation of the River Plate granted him the commission from Brown as Chief Pilot of the argentine fleet during the war against Brazil. For a river such as the Plata, said knowledge may be decisive in the outcome of the engagement.
His charts, under the recommendation of Brown himself, were acquired by the Nation and compiled into one chart by Andres Oyarbide.
We were unable to find any other examples of Aizpurua´s manuscript charts.
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