1794 Laurie and Whittle Nautical Chart or Map of the Gaspar Strait, Indonesia

This is a fine example of Laurie and Whittle's 1794 nautical chart or maritime map of the Gaspar Strait, Indonesia. The map covers the strait between Belitung and Bangka Islands connecting the Java Sea to the South China Sea. By the end of the 18th century the Gaspar Straits were one of the major shipping arteries between China and the West. Nonetheless, it was an extremely dangerous passage, called by one British sea captain who shipwrecked there in 1817, 'the most dangerous area between China and London.'

About ten years ago, the Gaspar Strait came into focus with the discovery of an ancient shipwreck at a spot known locally as 'Black Rock,' Divers seeking sea cucumbers discovered the oldest, most important, marine archaeological discovery ever made in South East Asia, an Arab dhow - or ship - built of teak, coconut wood and hibiscus fiber, packed with a treasure that Indiana Jones could only dream of. There were 63,000 pieces of gold, silver and ceramics from the fabled Tang dynasty, which flourished between the 7th and 10th centuries. The artifacts discovered included the largest Tang gold cup ever discovered and some of the finest Yue ware - porcelain that the ancient Chinese likened to snow because of its delicacy. The exceptional quality of the goods has led some scholars to suggest that these were gifts from the Tang Emperor himself. The treasure was subsequently acquired by the government of Singapore where it is displayed in a new Maritime Museum.

Laurie and Whittle prepared this chart for their 1799 issue of the East-India Pilot. Cartographically this chart is derived from an earlier map prepared by Joseph Huddart. The map offers rich detail including countless depth soundings, notes on the sea floor, commentary on reefs, rhumb lines, shoals, place names and a wealth of other practical information for the mariner. This map was registered by Laurie and Whittle from their offices at 53 Fleet Street, London, on May 12, 1794.

Cartographers

Laurie and Whittle (fl. 1794 - 1858) were London, England, based map and atlas publishers active in the late 18th and early 19th century. Generally considered to be the successors to the Robert Sayer firm, Laurie and Whittle was founded by Robert Laurie (c. 1755 - 1836) and James Whittle (1757-1818). Robert Laurie was a skilled mezzotint engraver and is known to have worked with Robert Sayer on numerous projects. James Whittle was a well-known London socialite and print seller whose Fleet Street shop was a popular haunt for intellectual luminaries. The partnership began taking over the general management of Sayer's firm around 1787; however, they did not alter the Sayer imprint until after Sayer's death in 1794. Apparently Laurie did most of the work in managing the firm and hence his name appeared first in the "Laurie and Whittle" imprint. Together Laurie and Whittle published numerous maps and atlases, often bringing in other important cartographers of the day, including Kitchin, Faden, Jefferys and others to update and modify their existing Sayer plates. Robert Laurie retired in 1812, leaving the day to day management of the firm to his son, Richard Holmes Laurie (1777 - 1858). Under R. H. Laurie and James Whittle, the firm renamed itself "Whittle and Laurie". Whittle himself died six years later in 1818, and thereafter the firm continued under the imprint of "R. H. Laurie". After R. H. Laurie's death the publishing house and its printing stock came under control of Alexander George Findlay, who had long been associated with Laurie and Whittle. Since, Laurie and Whittle has passed through numerous permeations, with part of the firm still extant as an English publisher of maritime or nautical charts, 'Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd.' The firm remains the oldest surviving chart publisher in Europe.   Further Details...

Joseph Huddart (January 11, 1741 - August 19, 1816) was a prominent English sea captain, hydrographer, chartmaker, inventor, and entrepreneur. Born into a fishing family in Allonby, near Maryport in Cumberland, he began his career at sea with his father as a fisherman. By 1762, he commanded the sloop Allonby, carrying cured fish to Ireland for the West Indian market. Later, he designed and built the first ship he would own privately, the Patience, launched in 1768 for the West Indies trade. In 1773, Huddart entered the service of the East India Company as Fourth Officer aboard the York, sailing to St. Helena and Bencoolen. During this voyage, he carried out extensive scientific surveys and observations along the western coast of Sumatra. His efforts came to public notice in 1777 when Robert Sayer published Huddart's charts of the Sumatran coastline and commissioned him to survey St. George's Channel, a project completed in the summer of 1778. The resulting chart, noted for its precision, secured his reputation as one of Britain's foremost hydrographers and ensured his financial success. Later, in 1777, he returned to the East India Company, where he rose to the position of Captain of the Royal Admiral. For nearly ten years, he sailed routes between India and China. In 1786, his chart of the Tigris (Pearl River, China) delta was issued by Robert Sayer. Huddart retired from active service in 1791 but continued to play a central role in maritime affairs. That same year, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1798, he became one of the founding directors of the East India Dock Company, laying its first foundation stone in 1804. He also served for 25 years as one of the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, offering his expertise on harbor and dock improvements. His inventive work included the three-arm protractor used by hydrographers and a system for using high-water marks in the London docks - a method that remained in practice until the 1960s. Perhaps his most significant contribution to the maritime arts was the development of steam-powered machinery for rope-making, which he transformed into a highly profitable enterprise.   Further Details...

Source

Laurie, R., and Whittle, J., The East-India Pilot, or Oriental Navigator, on One Hundred and Eighteen Plates: Containing a Complete Collection of Charts and Plans, &c., &c. for the Navigation not only of the Indian and China Seas, but of those also between England and the Cape of Good-Hope; Improved and Chiefly Composed from the Last Work of M. D'Apres de Mannevillette; with Considerable Additions, from Private Manuscripts of the Dutch, and from Draughts and Actual Surveys Communicated By Officers of the East-India Company A New Edition, Containing One Hundred and Five Charts. (London: Laurie and Whittle) 1797.    

Condition

Very good. Minor wear and verso repair along original centerfold. Original platemark visible. Some offsetting.