”Blackbirds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
Blown away is what I can best describe this gift Nyssacat sent me. I glanced at the Customs Import tag taped to the mailing tube and was shocked at the declared value. “Oh, this far too lavish as a birthday gift between online friends.”
His reply in a nutshell. “You deserve it.”
This is a NOAA Marine Navigational chart 11528 of the Charleston Harbor Entrance and Approach. In getting down to the details, there is more than meets the eye with this chart. Ready? Let’s jump in.
First feast your eyes on the Queen Anne’s Revenge as hand drawn into the right side of this chart. If you're using PeakD you can zoom in 200% and see the finer details. Well, the image compression didn't improve it much...
This is the amazing art of Lawrence Packard from out of Winter Haven Florida and he has been creating pen & ink sketches of ships on genuine navigational charts since 1970. Self-taught in his distinct pen & ink style combined with a passion for historical accuracy is the foundation of his signature artistic style.
Layering and building amazing detail with a mere technical pen his creations can take up to as many as 25,000 pen strokes to complete.
Just as important is his ‘Canvas’. Mr. Packard’s original Queen Anne’s Revenge is drawn on an original lithographed marine chart of the Beaufort Inlet shoreline of North Carolina where the wreck of Queen Anne’s Revenge was found in 1996.
Unlike regular drawing paper – chart paper affects every drawing differently. Some charts were printed on thin hard paper, which makes the ink lines thinner. Older charts used a softer paper and the ink diffuses more. Used charts have creases, wrinkles and stains that effect the lines. Charts exposed to salt spray are stiff. Each drawing requires a slightly different touch with the ink pen – a skill learned only from years of experience. ~ Lawrence Packard
In the commissioning of this drawing by Nyssacat, Mr. Packard couldn’t source an old Lithograph chart of Charleston coast but had to settle for the NOAA digitally printed chart. Though the quality of the paper was not ideal to his liking I think his line work is still fantastic. Detail like looking at the worn wrinkled billowing sails in the photo above. The photo just can’t seem to pick up the finer pen strokes as I can see in hand.
So why was Charleston chosen?
First is that in May of 1718 Blackbeard ordered his flotilla to blockade the port entrance to Charleston. In six days, he captured nine ships as they either try to enter or leave. Among the prisoners were some of Charleston’s prominent citizens held for ransom. Blackbeard threatened to kill his prisoners and sink the captured ship,The Crowley, if his demand is not met.
The South Carolina government complied with Blackbeard’s demands delivering a chest of medical supplies and the pirates released the ships and prisoners.
🤔
Why not gold and silver?
As a Nurse, I am curious to what ailments the pirates were suffering from but have yet to find information pertaining to it. It is suggested that due to social sensibilities the nature of the affliction is deliberately left off from the public records.
Second reason is that Nyssacat spent this youth living on Folly Beach. He’s described it as a magical place and rich in history. Lots of sandy beach, beautiful sun rises, great fishing and delicious seafood dishes at the local restaurants. Even an abandoned lighthouse and a very old cemetery for me to do a bit of ghost hunting if I’d like.
That was many years ago and Folly Beach has seen much development since he lived there. A home that was a part of his life, and he wanted this map to represent that and share our common interest in all things Pirate.
Nautical art reminds me of the old Chart makers that create maps for their respective Captains and explorers. Early exploration charts can often detail large swaths of featureless open ocean. Such empty spaces lend themselves to be filled with illuminations and embellishments by the chart maker of creatures observed at sea, flora and fauna of nearby land, or sketches of the exotic inhabitants living there. With time better spent at this than the physical demands of regular duties.
I’m sure when ever Mr. Packard sees a marine chart, he would wonder what ship rests beneath it waves.
Mr. Lawrence Packard specializes in ships that sank or have disappeared and drawing them on nautical charts where these vessels have been lost.
Would you like to see more of his work?
Always adding Silver and Crypto to my Stack for that rainy day or dark and story night!
Now adding a piece of historical art!
My heartfelt thank you to Nyssacat373 for this awesome piece of art. 💋
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain 
Related Posts
The making of Captain K’s Treasure Map
Captain Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach Anonymous Mint Round
$100 1981 Antigua & Barbuda banknote with the Queen Anne’s Revenge
$1 2019 Tuvalu Silver Coin: Queen Anne’s Revenge
Sources
Wikipedia: Blackbeard
“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin.”