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Colossal blueback chart, oriented with west at the top, showing the expanse of water between Britain and Ireland, including the coast of wales, western England and Scotland, and eastern Ireland. The map was published by the prolific chartmakers James Imray & Son in London in 1853, this addition having been updated and issued in 1855.
The chart includes Padstow Bay, Milford Haven, Dublin Bay, Belfast Bay, Lough Larne, Carlingford Lough, Entrance to Lough Strangford, Campbelltown Harbour, the River Clyde, Greenock, Port Glasgow, Bumbarton, Liverpool Bay, Holyhead Bay, and illustrations of lighthouses and light ships.
The chart also features a detailed treatment of the Isle of Man, as well as Aran Isle and nearby Scottish islands.
James Imray was a publisher specialized in nautical charts. He started one of the most successful blue-back chart-selling companies of the nineteenth century; it is still in business today. Imray’s father was a dyer and he was born in Spitalfields, London, an area known for its garment industry. James did not want to enter the garment trade, however, and instead apprenticed to Stationer William Lukyn in 1818. Imray began his business as a book publisher and seller; however, he shared premises with Robert Blachford, a chartseller. Imray entered into business with Robert’s successor, Michael. He turned the business into a success and bought Blachford out in 1846, publishing under the imprint of James Imray. In 1854, son James Frederick joined as a partner and the imprint changed to Imray & Son. They thrived thanks to targeted marketing and excellent compilation charts that focused on trade routes. The busines entered in a long decline after the death of James Sr. in 1870. In 1899, Imray & Son amalgamated with Norie & Wilson. This conglomerate was bought by the Laurie firm in 1904 and today the business trades as Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson.
