The waters between England and Ireland.
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James Imray (May 16, 1803 - November 15, 1870) was a Scottish hydrographer and stationer active in London during the middle to latter part of the 19th century.
Imray is best known as a the largest and most 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 not generally the result of unique survey work.
Rather, Imray's charts were judicious and beautiful composites based upon pre-existing charts (some dating to the 17th century) and new information gleaned from governmental as well as commercial pilots and navigators.
Imray was born in Spitalfields, England, the eldest son of a Jacobite dyer also named James.
Imray did not follow his father profession, instead apprenticing to William Lukyn, a stationer.
He established himself as a bookseller and bookbinder at 116 Minories Street, where he shared offices with the nautical chart publisher Robert Blachford.
In 1836 Imray signed on as a full partner in Blachford's enterprise, christening themselves Blachford & Imray.
At this time the Blachford firm lagged far behind competing chart publishers Norie and Laruie, nevertheless, with the injection of Imray's marketing savvy the firm began a long rise.
James Imray bought out Blachford's share in 1846, becoming the sole proprietor of the chart house, publishing under the imprint of James Imray.
Relocating in 1850 to larger offices at 102 Minories, Imray was well on track to become the most prominent chart publisher in London.
In 1854, when Imray's 25 year old son, James Frederick Imray, joined as a full partner, the firm again changed its imprint, this time to James Imray and Son.
The elder Imray was a master of marketing and was quick to respond to trade shifts and historic events.
Many of his most successful charts were targeted to specific trade routes, for example, he issued charts entitled "Cotton Ports of Georgia" and "Rice Ports of India".
Other charts emerged quickly following such events as the 1849 California Gold Rush.
Imray's rise also coincided with the development of governmental mapping organizations such as the Admiralty and the U.S. Coast Survey, whose work he appropriated and rebranded in practical format familiar to navigators.
Imray's death in 1870 marked a major transition in the firm's output and began its decline.
Though Imray's son, James Frederick, excelled at authoring pilot books he had little experience with charts and issued few new publications.
Most James Frederick Imray publications issued from 1870 to 1899 were either revisions of earlier maps prepared by his father or copies of British Admiralty charts.
Charts from this period are recognizable as being less decorative than the elder Imray's charts following the stylistic conventions established by the Admiralty.
The Admiralty itself at the same time began to rise in prominence, issuing its own official charts that were both cheaper and more up to date than those offered by private enterprises.
Imray is best known as a the largest and most 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 not generally the result of unique survey work.
Rather, Imray's charts were judicious and beautiful composites based upon pre-existing charts (some dating to the 17th century) and new information gleaned from governmental as well as commercial pilots and navigators.
Imray was born in Spitalfields, England, the eldest son of a Jacobite dyer also named James.
Imray did not follow his father profession, instead apprenticing to William Lukyn, a stationer.
He established himself as a bookseller and bookbinder at 116 Minories Street, where he shared offices with the nautical chart publisher Robert Blachford.
In 1836 Imray signed on as a full partner in Blachford's enterprise, christening themselves Blachford & Imray.
At this time the Blachford firm lagged far behind competing chart publishers Norie and Laruie, nevertheless, with the injection of Imray's marketing savvy the firm began a long rise.
James Imray bought out Blachford's share in 1846, becoming the sole proprietor of the chart house, publishing under the imprint of James Imray.
Relocating in 1850 to larger offices at 102 Minories, Imray was well on track to become the most prominent chart publisher in London.
In 1854, when Imray's 25 year old son, James Frederick Imray, joined as a full partner, the firm again changed its imprint, this time to James Imray and Son.
The elder Imray was a master of marketing and was quick to respond to trade shifts and historic events.
Many of his most successful charts were targeted to specific trade routes, for example, he issued charts entitled "Cotton Ports of Georgia" and "Rice Ports of India".
Other charts emerged quickly following such events as the 1849 California Gold Rush.
Imray's rise also coincided with the development of governmental mapping organizations such as the Admiralty and the U.S. Coast Survey, whose work he appropriated and rebranded in practical format familiar to navigators.
Imray's death in 1870 marked a major transition in the firm's output and began its decline.
Though Imray's son, James Frederick, excelled at authoring pilot books he had little experience with charts and issued few new publications.
Most James Frederick Imray publications issued from 1870 to 1899 were either revisions of earlier maps prepared by his father or copies of British Admiralty charts.
Charts from this period are recognizable as being less decorative than the elder Imray's charts following the stylistic conventions established by the Admiralty.
The Admiralty itself at the same time began to rise in prominence, issuing its own official charts that were both cheaper and more up to date than those offered by private enterprises.
The company's history is recorded more accurately in the book 'The Makers of the Blueback Charts' (Imray, 2002) which is based on the family records of both Imrays and Wilsons and researched by an expert maritime historian.
The Wilson family took ownership of Norie’s firm in 1852.
The Wilson family took ownership of Norie’s firm in 1852.
It traded as Norie and Wilson Ltd until 1904, focusing on yachting from the 1890s.
The Imrays began working with the Wilsons in 1899, with members of both the families owning shares in James Imray and Son Ltd.
The Imrays began working with the Wilsons in 1899, with members of both the families owning shares in James Imray and Son Ltd.
This company, plus Norie and Wilson Ltd, ran until 1904.
In 1904, James Imray and Son Ltd and Norie and Wilson Ltd amalgamated and also bought the R.H. Laurie business. The Wilson family owned half the shares and the Imrays and Lauries a quarter each. Norie and Wilson was relatively financially stable and the Wilson family led this amalgamation
In 1904, James Imray and Son Ltd and Norie and Wilson Ltd amalgamated and also bought the R.H. Laurie business. The Wilson family owned half the shares and the Imrays and Lauries a quarter each. Norie and Wilson was relatively financially stable and the Wilson family led this amalgamation
Today it continues to publish maritime charts as "Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson".
click on the picture for HR viewing or go to Geographicus
Links :
- Raremaps : Antique maps by James Imray & Son
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