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1896 Imray Chart of the Western Pacific
WesternPacific-imray-1896$500.00
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Title
Western Pacific [Chart No. 3].
1896 (dated) 50 x 41 in (127 x 104.14 cm) 1 : 3600000
1896 (dated) 50 x 41 in (127 x 104.14 cm) 1 : 3600000
Description
A remarkable 1896 James Imray working blueback nautical chart of islands and waters in the western Pacific Ocean, including the Marshall, Caroline, Solomon, Mariana, and Gilbert Islands.
Both indigenous and European names appear for many islands, with German often appearing in parentheses, a reflection of the colonial claims of the territory of German New Guinea, which took in a portion of the Solomon Islands, and the separate German Protectorate over the Marshall Islands. In 1899, Germany purchased most of the Caroline and Mariana Islands from Spain. After the World War I (1914 - 1918), most of Germany's Pacific possessions went to Japan as the South Seas Mandate, before falling under U.S. protection and occupation during and after the Second World War (Bikini Atoll, near center, was rather notoriously depopulated and used for U.S. nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s).
The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade. Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chartmakers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chartmakers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th-century, when government-subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey began issuing their own superior charts on high-quality paper that did not require reinforcement.
A Closer Look
Containing 40-odd insets in addition to the large map at bottom, this fascinating chart covers islands, atolls, reefs, and other features in the Marshall, Caroline, Solomon, Mariana, and Gilbert Islands in the western Pacific. Soundings, hazards, anchorages, magnetic variations, and other critical navigational information are provided throughout, including updates to earlier editions of the chart and notes about areas of uncertainty or unconfirmed features. As a block of text near center explains, the Marshall Islands in particular were poorly understood by hydrographers and required special caution. Handwritten annotations track the outward and return journey of a ship, most likely traveling between Australia and China, in 1899 and 1900.Both indigenous and European names appear for many islands, with German often appearing in parentheses, a reflection of the colonial claims of the territory of German New Guinea, which took in a portion of the Solomon Islands, and the separate German Protectorate over the Marshall Islands. In 1899, Germany purchased most of the Caroline and Mariana Islands from Spain. After the World War I (1914 - 1918), most of Germany's Pacific possessions went to Japan as the South Seas Mandate, before falling under U.S. protection and occupation during and after the Second World War (Bikini Atoll, near center, was rather notoriously depopulated and used for U.S. nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s).
Blueback Charts
Blueback nautical charts began appearing in London in the late 18th century. Bluebacks, as they came to be called, were privately published large-format nautical charts known for their distinctive blue paper backing. The backing, a commonly available blue manila paper traditionally used by publishers to wrap unbound pamphlets, was adopted as a practical way to reinforce the low-quality paper used by private chart publishers in an effort to cut costs. That being said, not all blueback charts are literally backed with blue paper. The earliest known blueback charts include a 1760 chart issued by Mount and Page, and a 1787 chart issued by Robert Sayer.The tradition took off in the early 19th century, when British publishers like John Hamilton Moore, Robert Blachford, James Imray, William Heather, John William Norie, Charles Wilson, David Steel, R. H. Laurie, and John Hobbs, among others, rose to dominate the chart trade. Bluebacks became so popular that the convention was embraced by chartmakers outside of England, including Americans Edmund March Blunt and George Eldridge, as well as Scandinavian, French, German, Russian, and Spanish chartmakers. Blueback charts remained popular until the late 19th-century, when government-subsidized organizations like the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office and the United States Coast Survey began issuing their own superior charts on high-quality paper that did not require reinforcement.
Publication History and Census
This map was compiled by James Imray and published by James Imray and Son in 1894, with corrections and additions to 1896. It is not recorded in any edition in OCLC or other institutional collections and is scarce to the market.Cartographer
James Imray (May 16, 1803 - November 15, 1870) was a Scottish hydrographer and stationer active in London during the middle to latter part of the 19th century. Imray is best known as a the largest and most prominent producer of blue-back charts, a kind of nautical chart popular from about 1750 to 1920 and named for its distinctive blue paper backing (although not all charts that may be called "blue-backs" actually have a blue backing). Unlike government charts issued by the British Admiralty, U.S. Coast Survey, and other similar organizations, Imray's charts were a private profit based venture and not generally the result of unique survey work. Rather, Imray's charts were judicious and beautiful composites based upon pre-existing charts (some dating to the 17th century) and new information gleaned from governmental as well as commercial pilots and navigators. Imray was born in Spitalfields, England, the eldest son of a Jacobite dyer also named James. Imray did not follow his father profession, instead apprenticing to William Lukyn, a stationer. He established himself as a bookseller and bookbinder at 116 Minories Street, where he shared offices with the nautical chart publisher Robert Blanchford. In 1836 Imray signed on as a full partner in Blanchford's enterprise, christening themselves Blanchford & Imray. At this time the Blanchford firm lagged far behind competing chart publishers Norie and Laruie, nevertheless, with the injection of Imray's marketing savvy the firm began a long rise. James Imray bought out Blanchford's share in 1846, becoming the sole proprietor of the chart house, publishing under the imprint of James Imray. Relocating in 1850 to larger offices at 102 Minories, Imray was well on track to become the most prominent chart publisher in London. In 1854, when Imray's 25 year old son, James Frederick Imray, joined as a full partner, the firm again changed its imprint, this time to James Imray and Son. The elder Imray was a master of marketing and was quick to respond to trade shifts and historic events. Many of his most successful charts were targeted to specific trade routes, for example, he issued charts entitled "Cotton Ports of Georgia" and "Rice Ports of India". Other charts emerged quickly following such events as the 1849 California Gold Rush. Imray's rise also coincided with the development of governmental mapping organizations such as the Admiralty and the U.S. Coast Survey, whose work he appropriated and rebranded in practical format familiar to navigators. Imray's death in 1870 marked a major transition in the firm's output and began its decline. Though Imray's son, James Frederick, excelled at authoring pilot books he had little experience with charts and issued few new publications. Most James Frederick Imray publications issued from 1870 to 1899 were either revisions of earlier maps prepared by his father or copies of British Admiralty charts. Charts from this period are recognizable as being less decorative than the elder Imray's charts following the stylistic conventions established by the Admiralty. The Admiralty itself at the same time began to rise in prominence, issuing its own official charts that were both cheaper and more up to date than those offered by private enterprises. By the end of the century the firm was well in decline and, in 1899 "James Imray and Son" amalgamated with the similarly suffering "Norie and Wilson", which was itself acquired by Laurie in 1904. Today it continues to publish maritime charts as "Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson". More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Fair. Edge wear and small edge tears - some reinforced on verso. Some dampstaining and soiling. Patched area of loss bottom right, between Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Archipelago.