Old map Marseille hydraulic public works 1930s-1940s Joliette port

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This archival document, visible in the photo, is an old map, typical of the 1930s-40s, representing a section of the port of Marseille around the Grande Joliette basin. It is a printed technical drawing, used in public and hydraulic works. The drawing shows a precise mapping of the quays, hangars, basins, and circulation routes, with clear mentions such as "Quai d'Arenc", "Hangar Nord", "Magasins", and "Bassin de la Grande Joliette".

The map is drawn in black ink on aged paper, with a patina characteristic of technical documents from that era. The grid of folds is clearly distinguishable, leaving visible brown marks, testifying to its age and prolonged storage folded. The outlines and annotations are drawn with great precision, typical of engineering plans from the first half of the 20th century.

The lower right part of the document shows a printed technical cartouche, containing administrative information and perhaps the mention of a design office or an engineering company, although the text is difficult to read in the image. The graphic elements are exclusively technical, without illustration or superfluous ornamentation.

The map notably shows the layout of hangars, warehouses, and access roads around the port, with specific structure names ("Hangar T", "Hangar D", "Magasins IF/IA/IC"). The outlines of the basins and quays are clear and accompanied by directional markers. The printing technique of the map seems to correspond to a heliographic or offset print common in public works archives of this period.

The visible side of the map has no handwritten additions, annotations, or highlighting, which confirms its original administrative or technical use. An upper right corner is covered by a label or a white sheet, possibly masking part of the title or legend.

Condition

This old map has a homogeneous patina with pronounced fold marks and brown oxidation areas on the folds. The condition is typical of an archival document from the period, with yellowed paper and visible traces of wear, with no apparent tears on the visible side.

The item is second-hand and sold as is.

Did you know? The major infrastructure works carried out in Marseille in the 1930s-40s profoundly transformed the port of Joliette, then the industrial and commercial heart of the city. The plans from this period testify to the expansion of hangars and the modernization of port facilities, which enabled Marseille to establish itself as one of the main ports in the Mediterranean.

AFW Reassurance

Your purchase will be carefully packaged and shipped quickly by a professional seller, with all due care given to the preservation of old documents.

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