1876 Imray Blue-back Nautical Chart or Map of Taiwan (Formosa), China
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Description: This is an extremely rare and highly desirable 1876 Imray blue-back chart depicting Taiwan (Formosa) and northern Luzon. Covers the regions between 16°30' to 25°40' North Latitude and between 188° 20' and 130° 20' East Longitude. Offers considerable detail along the cost of Formosa, particularly to the west in the Formosa Strait and around the Pescadore Islands. Countless depth soundings throughout. When Imray drew this nautical chart, very little was known about the seas between China and the Philippines. Indeed, the following note of caution appears in the lower right hand quadrant of the map:
The utmost care is requisite when navigating the seas comprised within the limits of this chart because they are very imperfectly known and it is believed that sunken reefs exist while have yet to be inserted on the chart, and the many of the known reefs are inaccurately placed in position.Despite the general paucity of information available, this chart represents one of the best mappings of the Taiwan region to appear in the 19th century. This region was not fully surveyed until the Japanese conquest of Taiwan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Date: 1876 (dated)
Cartographer: James Imray (1803-1870) was an English hydrographer and stationer active in London during the middle to latter part of the 19th century. Imray is best known known as a 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 therefore not generally the result of unique survey work. Rather, Imray's charts were judicious composites based upon pre-existing charts (some dating to the 18th century) and new information gleaned from commercial pilots and navigators. Along with fellow publishers Laurie, Norie and Wilson, Imray (later Imray and Sons) supplied nautical charts for much of the world sea trade from about 1850 to 1910. Click here for a list of rare maps by James Imray and Sons.
Size: Printed area measures 50 x 41 inches (127 x 104.14 centimeters)
Condition: Good condition. Minor soiling and buckling. Distinctive blue backing. Would benefit from professional cleaning and rebacking on heavy linen.
Code: Taiwan-imray-1876 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)
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