Old plan of the Old Port of Marseille 1930s-40s vintage public works document

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Detailed description

This old document features a cartographic plate of the port of Marseille, dated from the 1930s-40s according to the visible style and patina. The right-hand page shows a detailed map titled "PLAN DU PORT DE MARSEILLE" (MAP OF THE PORT OF MARSEILLE) with a compass rose, a legend, and a precise representation of the quays, basins, and port infrastructure. The tracing details, typography, and sepia ink indicate a period print, typical of the technical plans used by public works and hydraulic engineering departments in the first half of the 20th century.

The left-hand part of the document shows a typewritten administrative sheet, bearing the mention "Direction des Ports Maritimes" (Department of Maritime Ports) and the handwritten date August 29, 1957, which indicates prolonged use or a later update of the initial file. An official stamp and a handwritten signature are also visible, along with instructions addressed to a chief engineer. The paper has a yellowed tint and uniform wear, typical of technical archives preserved for several decades.

The port map occupies an entire page with precise cartography of the coastline, quays, basins (notably "Bassin de la Pinède", "Bassin National") and access routes. The legend indicates categories: "Ouvrages publics" (Public works), "Chemins de fer" (Railways), "Terrains à venir" (Future land). The lines are clear despite a slight browning of the paper, particularly visible on the edges and folds, reinforcing the authentic and vintage character of this technical document.

This type of plan, used by civil engineers, served for the management, development, and extension of Marseille's port infrastructures, then the main commercial port in France. The overall visual aspect of the document, with its mechanical fonts, handwritten annotations, and unfolded format, makes it a reference object for the industrial and port history of the 20th century.

The document is presented open on a wooden surface, clearly showing the cartographic map and the associated administrative sheet. No reverse side or additional details are visible in this photograph.

Condition

Second-hand item, sold as is. The paper shows a uniform patina, traces of browning, some visible folds, and slight wear on the edges, with no apparent tears on the visible side. Inscriptions and lines remain perfectly legible.

Did you know? Technical plans of French ports from the 1930s-40s were drawn up by engineers from the Ponts et Chaussées (Roads and Bridges Corps) or maritime services, often on resistant paper intended for intensive use. The port of Marseille, reworked several times during the 20th century, was one of the largest Mediterranean ports and a strategic center for French trade and naval industry.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping ensured by a professional seller specializing in old documents and technical archives.

Keywords: plan port Marseille, old public works document, vintage hydraulic map, port archive, 1930s technical plan, map Marseille harbor, old administrative document, engineer plan, historical Marseille plan, maritime works, 20th century period plan, vintage engineer