DESCRIPTION: Scarce antique blueback nautical chart of the West coast of India, including Mumbai ( Bombay ) and Goa, trending southward to Kanyakumari ( Cape Comorin ). Cape Comorin is the southern-most point of the Indian subcontinent, surrounded by the Laccadive Sea. This scarce nineteeth-century blueback nautical chart contains detailed inset port plans of Cochin Harbor, Calicut Roads, Bombay Harbor, and the Approach to Bombay.
During the 1800's there was a trend toward publication of very large small-scale charts with large-scale insets of key passages and harbors. The practice was adopted as much for economics as any other reason. James Imray and Son was one of a handful of British publishers who specialized in these charts which were often backed with canvas or linen cloth or heavy blue paper in order to help them withstand the frequent use and abuse aboard ship, hence the term "blueback chart".
Due to changing conditions charts could become outdated quickly and it was important for mariners to understand the accuracy of their navigational charts. The British Admiralty and later the U.S. Coast Survey responded by recording the dates of each update on the map, in some cases maintaining a historical record of updates spanning many decades. Private publishers of sea charts like Imray or Laurie fulfilled the same need by providing the date of the last update with an inked overstamp. On this chart we find an example of that practice, an oval-shaped blue ink over-stamp that reads: "Imray and Son 1869".
Published by James Imray and Son, 89 and 102 Minories. Laid to blue paper for protection with cloth selvage. Original cloth map ties. Yellow label from the Imray firm attached on verso that reads "James Imray and Son, Hydrographers.". James Imray and Son is one of the three firms that over the last two centuries combined to form Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1868
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: India
BODY OF WATER: Indian Ocean
CONDITION: Good.
Generally clean … creamy paper. Corners tending to be a bit browned. One small 2" repaired tear at far bottom not impacting the image. Small stain and tear to the upper layer only at bottom left. Laid to blue paper as issued. Cloth selvage intact all around, with cloth ties present. Minimal amount of wrinking as usual.
COLORING: None
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 40
" x
48 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 0
PRICE: $600
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