1958 7-Part Official Survey of Singapore Island and City

An extremely important and scarce set of Singapore Maps issued in 1958 under the Surveyor General Malaya. This map set was created during the 1955 - 1958 period of partial internal self-governance and compilated in the year Singapore attained full internal self-governance. The maps cover all of Singapore island as well adjacent islands, and include two supplementary maps, one focusing on Keppel Harbor, and the other extending the coverage eastward to Pulau Tekong. The detail throughout is astounding, with individual buildings, alleyways, roads, and more identified. A key shows the locations of temples (noting religious affiliation), hospitals, schools, government offices, dispensaries, community centers, and fire stations, and other constructions. The map also notes topography, geographical features, the extent of natural and cultivated vegetation, maritime details.

The Path to Self-Governance

Singapore suffered extensively under Japanese control during World War II. Much of the infrastructure was destroyed, including electric and water supply systems, telephone services, and harbor facilities. Moreover, Britain's complete failure to defend Singapore led to anti-colonial and nationalist sentiments. By 1955, Singapore was in the midst of an aggressive redevelopment and attained partial self-governance. This process demanded new cartography and work on this map commenced under David Marshall, the first Chief Minister of Singapore and was fully realized under his successor, Lim Yew Hock. Lim Yew Hock led the negotiation for full internal self-sovereignty. Part of the requirement imposed by the British Parliament was that the nation prove self-sufficiency, in terms of internal development, infrastructure, and defense. This map was designed to help establish the city-state's readyness to join the modern world as a new nation. The 1958 State of Singapore Constitution or the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council 1958 laid out the basic government structure for a self-governance.

Publication History and Census

The maps are cartographically based on Federated Malay States topographical surveys dating to 1937, Royal Air Force survey photography compiled from 1951 to 1857, and detailed topographical field surveys completed between 1955 and 1957. The set formally contains 8 maps, 7 of which are present, with the northeastern island sheet unfortunately missing. We have searched rigorously for the missing sheet. (124c Tampines), but have found only one example, at the Library Board of Singapore. The only complete sets we have identified are at the University of Wisconsin and the National Library Board, Singapore.