Old Marseille canal Rhône 1930s-40s public works hydraulic vinta

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description The document shown in the photo is an old plan, probably made in the 1930s or 1940s, related to hydraulic public works in Marseille. It is a technical drawing made with ink and colored pencils, displayed flat on a wooden desk. The plan shows a section of the "Canal de Marseille au Rhône," with this name clearly visible on the exposed side. Several mapped elements are also distinguishable, including an area titled "La Falaise" and various routes, roads, and hydraulic structures. Technical annotations and measurements are written in red, providing a typical contrast for period plans.

The plan features precise visual details: bridge or structure outlines on the canal, rectilinear and curved segments, as well as hatched or light blue colored areas representing bodies of water. In the upper right corner, a legible inscription indicates: "Aménagement Société des Entreprises de Grands Travaux Hydrauliques" (Development Company for Major Hydraulic Works), accompanied by other technical information (surface area, dimensions, total), confirming the professional use of the document in the context of major public works of the era.

The graphic style, handwritten lettering, and coloring technique clearly evoke the technical drawing methods used in the first half of the 20th century. The dominant colors are pale blue (for water), red (for annotations), and the cream background of the paper, slightly yellowed by time. The paper shows horizontal and vertical folds, indicating prolonged storage and careful handling.

The plan in the photo only shows one side; no verso or annotations on the back are visible. No frame, binding, or hanging system appears in the image. The photographed area only shows the upper part of the plan, placed on a honey-toned wooden desk, which highlights the historical and professional aspect of the object.

Originally intended for the management or planning of hydraulic works in Marseille, this technical plan now constitutes a valuable visual testimony to engineering and land development in the interwar period.

Condition Used item, sold as is. The plan shows signs of use and folds, with no visible tears on the exposed side. Some minor handling marks are present, consistent with the age and function of the document.

Did you know? The Canal de Marseille au Rhône was a major project launched in the 19th century to connect the Mediterranean to the Rhône basin, thus facilitating the transport of goods and the region's water supply. Technical plans made in the 1930s-40s bear witness to the boom in major hydraulic infrastructure works in France before the Second World War.

AFW Reassurance Your purchase will be carefully packed and shipped quickly. AFW guarantees professional service and particular attention to the preservation of old documents.

Keywords: old map Marseille, technical map Rhône canal, vintage hydraulic document, public works map, 1930s engineering plan, handwritten plan, major hydraulic works company, Marseille archive, Marseille-Rhône canal plan, old engineering map, vintage civil engineering, blue