Straits of Banca - Herbert 1760

A Chart of the Seas between the Straits of Banca and Po. Timon
Drawn/Published by: William Herbert
Location: London
Year: 1760 (dated)
From: A New Directory for the East-Indies
Condition: Rare nautical chart with original outline colour; with mat board.

A Rare Mid-18th Century Maritime Guide
This 1760 chart is a significant work of British hydrography by William Herbert, a renowned printmaker and map seller who specialized in navigational guides for the East India trade. It provides a detailed survey of the vital maritime corridor between the Straits of Banca (Bangka) and Pulau Tioman (Po. Timon), encompassing the southern entrance to the South China Sea.

"Isle de Jatana"
For the collector of Singaporeana, this map is particularly fascinating for its labeling of the island. It is identified as Isle de Jatana ou de Saincapour.

• The Name: The use of "Jatana" (or Ujong Tanah, meaning "Land's End" in Malay) alongside "Saincapour" reflects the transitional geographic knowledge of the 1700s, combining local Malay descriptors with the Westernized name.
• Strategic Gateway: The chart captures the Straits of Malacca and Singapore at a time when they were being heavily surveyed by the British to secure a safe passage for ships traveling to China.

Navigational Detail & Soundings
As a functional maritime tool, the map is densely packed with soundings (depth measurements), sandbanks, and reefs. It highlights the treacherous navigation around the Riau Archipelago and the eastern approaches to the Straits. The inclusion of Rhio (Riau) and Bintan (Bintang) showcases the islands that served as the primary regional power centers before the rise of Singapore as a colonial port.

A Significant "East-India" Artifact
Published decades before the arrival of Raffles, Herbert’s chart represents the height of Georgian-era naval intelligence. It is a vital record of the era when British maritime supremacy was being established in the waters of the East Indies.