Old Marseille port plan Public hydraulic works 1930s-1940s vintage

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This old document is a handwritten and hand-drawn plan, illustrating a project or a survey related to hydraulic public works in the port of Marseille. Visible in the photo, the plan features an ink and lead pencil drawing, complemented by colored highlights (blue for water, red for certain structures) and technical annotations. The mention "Société Amicale Philanthropique de pêche Lou Sard", the "Fontaine des Tuiles" and several areas indicated by handwritten calculations and measurements are clearly distinguishable. The schematic representation of the port, its quays and its facilities suggests the work of an engineer or technician from the hydraulic or port sector.

The inscriptions are in French, in a technical script characteristic of the 1930s-1940s. The plan shows port elements such as quays, basins and indications of an area swept by a crane, with precise annotations on water and land surfaces. The whole is drawn on paper yellowed by time, with slightly wavy edges and some signs of wear (folds, small missing parts, dulled corners), typical of technical archival plans of this period.

The document is presented open, exposing a wide view of the plan, with no visible indication of the reverse side or details on the back. The main colors are the beige of the paper, the pale blue of the watercolor ink, the vivid red for certain axes or areas, and the black/gray of the lines and technical writings.

The drawing style, the handwritten typography and the nature of the subject (hydraulic public works, port of Marseille, fishing company) confirm a probable dating between the 1930s and 1940s. This type of technical plan was commonly used for the management of port infrastructures and the organization of spaces dedicated to different companies or specific uses.

This plan constitutes a valuable visual testimony to the urban and port history of Marseille, reflecting the working methods and technical rigor of the era. It is intended for anyone interested in the history of ports, hydraulic infrastructures or old technical archival documents.

Condition

Used document, sold as is. Signs of wear from use: folds, dulled corners, small marginal tears, slight stains and yellowing of the paper. Inscriptions and colors remain generally well legible on the visible side.

Did you know? Until the 1950s, hand-drawn technical plans were the main tool used by engineers and architects for the design and management of public infrastructures. In Marseille, the port underwent numerous hydraulic developments in the 20th century to adapt to the boom in maritime trade and the diversification of urban and industrial uses.

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