SELLER, John
The British artist, cartographer and royal hydrographer John Seller (1630-1697) is best known for the first detailed mapping of the Mediterranean coast, as published in the “English Pilot...”. This work was repeatedly reissued even after Seller's death and remained in use down to the 19th century. Seller's particular manner of depicting coasts and ports with their anchorages was an influence on several later cartographic editions (J. Bellin, Roux and others).
Seller published maps, atlases, almanacs and astronomical charts, as well as the first significant practical manuals for sailors. In 1671 he was proclaimed Hydrographer to Charles II of England. Seller held the monopoly of map publishing in England for approximately thirty years. He also founded a publishing house which issued Atlases in small and large format (astronomical, terrestrial and maritime), practical guides of various kinds, navigation manuals and navigational tools and instruments.
Seller's shop was located in the most crowded sailors' neighbourhood of London. There, clients who stopped by could be taught lessons in "Arithmetick, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, navigation, and gunnery; likewise the use of the globes, and other mathematical instruments, the projection of the sphere, and other parts of the mathematics." His business suffered from strong competition by Thornton and Fisher, who in the end obtained the rights to several works by Seller.
In his long career, Seller published “Praxis Nautica» (1669), “Atlas Maritimus” (1669), “Atlas Terrestris” (1676) and a concise treatise on navigation (1681). Although his maps are not especially remarkable with regard to engraving or aesthetic result, he played a major part in the history of English cartography by establishing the English language in maritime charts and contributing several maps to the cartographic production of the 17th century.
Written by Ioli Vingopoulou
SELLER, John - Alexandria
SELLER, John - Rest Images
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Nautical chart of the bay of Alfacs near the village of Alcanar.
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Nautical chart of the Balearic islands and the coast of Spain from Murcia to Barcelona.
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Nautical chart of Corsica and the northwestern coast of Italy.
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Nautical chart of the bay of Messina, Sicily. Nautical chart of the port of Palermo, Sicily.
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Nautical chart of Sicily and the adjacent coasts of Italy and Tunisia.
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Nautical chart of the bay and promontory of Passero, Sicily. Nautical chart of the bay of Taranto.
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Outlines of coasts and mountains of Italy as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts at the gulf of Venice as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts at the gulf of Venice as seen from the sea.
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Nautical chart of the bay of Methoni. Map of the bay of Oitylo.
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Outline of the coast of the Peloponnese as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of several islands of the Cyclades as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of several islands of the Cyclades as seen from the sea.
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Nautical chart of the bay of Gallipoli, Turkey. View of Marmara island.
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Nautical chart of the bay and the islands outside Yenifoça, Asia Minor.
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Nautical chart of the port of Chios. Outline of the coasts of Lesbos island and Foça in Asia Minor.
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Nautical chart of the southern coast of Turkey, Cyprus and the coasts of Syria, Palestine and Egypt.
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Outline of the coasts of modern-day Israel and Egypt as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of Cythera and Anticythera islands as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coast of Marmara island as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Icaria islands as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of Psara, Rhodes and Karpathos islands as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of Cyprus and Syria as seen from the sea.
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Outline of the coasts of Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon and modern-day Israel as seen from the sea.
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Nautical chart of the Saronic gulf and the southwestern coast of Attica.
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