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Hong Kong/ SW China Coast/ Viet Nam. JAMES IMRAY & SON [London: 1880/ 1881] East India Archipelago [Western Route to China. Chart No. 5. 50 x 40 inches; 127 x 101.5 cm. Two joined, lithographed sheets, mounted on modern, heavy blue paper with original trade label. Course track in pencil dated 1886. Small loss in lower right margin, else excellent. A superb, highly detailed chart of the southwestern coast of China from Hong Kong in the east, and including most of the coast of Viet Nam. Among the eight inset charts is a large one of the approaches to Hong Kong. Several bays and harbors in Viet Nam are also highlighted in the insets, including Haiphong and Da Nang. The recommended courses to and from Hong Kong are shown in engraved, dashed lines. James Imray (1803-1870) was the leading publisher of sea charts in Britain during the latter part of the 19th century. Imray's charts were prized throughout the world by both naval officers and merchant mariners for their unparalleled accuracy and precise, elegant engraving. Imray was consistently able to source the most up-to-date hydrographic intelligence from the British Admiralty, as well as from commercial pilots and captains. Imray was also London’s leading seller of navigational equipment and sailing directions. Imray himself directly managed the chart end of the business. Initially a bookseller and binder in Cheapside, Imray in 1836 joined with Michael Blachford, a sea chart publisher based in London. The partnership flourished and soon began to compete with the larger firm of Norie and Wilson. In 1846 Imray bought out Blachford, taking over as sole proprietor. Through various partnerships over the years, the company has survived to this day, now specializing in charts for yachting and fishing.
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