Chart of the Atlantic showing proposed course of the Atlantic Cable, 1856-1857

Framed and glazed chart of the Atlantic Ocean showing the proposed course of the Atlantic Cable, plus section marked 1857 showing the depth of the ocean bed at points along the course, made by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, London, England, 1856-1857.

Produced by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, this chart shows the proposed route for a submarine cable across the Atlantic, connecting Britain and the United States by telegraphy. It was produced in 1856, a year before the first attempt was made to lay such a cable. This attempt was unsuccessful, and was followed by two more unsuccessful attempts in 1858 and 1865, before a cable was successfully laid in 1866. As well as showing the proposed route of the Atlantic cable, this chart also showed some of the inland telegraph cables in Britain and the United States, and has a section showing the depth of the ocean bed.