Map Singapore (18 results)

Large colour folding map in original paper wrappers. Text in Malay and English. 83.5 x 53.5cm, folded 21 x 15cm. Closed tear along spine of trifle soiled upper wrapper, otherwise a very good copy.

Printed colour maps in all 65.5 x 99cm, the main map roughly 50 x 65 cm, on a single sheet 76 x 101.3 cms; a little carelessly folded, decorative blue title cover, a little dusty and a few fold splits and edgewear, but in good condition. The exceptional feature of this map are the twenty six large scale inset maps of Pacific islands including: Malay States, Singapore, Hong Kong (these at lower left), Japan, Philippine Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Western and Eastern Samoa, Tahiti, Saipan, New Caledonia and Dependencies, and many others. The main map of the Pacific Ocean stretches from Southeast Asia, including all of Australia and New Zealand, the west coast of the Americas, the Kamchatka Peninsula, Manchukuo (Manchuria) and most of China. Korea and Taiwan are marked as Japanese Territory. Possessions of Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States are highlighted. An incredibly rich source of information on the Pacific theatre during the years leading up to World War II. From the Sydney publisher H.E.C. Robinson, the firm founded in 1895 by Herbert Robinson (1857-1933), a founder of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.

Colour map, 21 x 50.5 cm, centrefold as issued. Faint dampstain to upper edge, centrefold a little browned. Good copy. Map of Southeast Asia, including Borneo and the Philippines and New Guinea. Of particular interest is the small inset map of Singapore at lower left. The war situation of the Japanese army in 1941 and 1942 during the Pacific War is clearly shown with one sheet. Text in the inset plan of Singapore says "Occupation of Singapore in February 15 (1942)".

First edition. Coloured map, 88.5 x 66.5 cm, scale 1: 500,000, light wear, a very good example. Very attractive wartime map of Singapore.

Very good. Size 10.25 x 7.5 Inches. This is a 1955 map of the Malay Peninsula and Singapore made by the Survey Department of the Federation of Malaya. It depicts the country on the eve of its independence from Great Britain, which was a relatively smooth transition. A Closer Look The map includes the constituent states of the Federation of Malaya, including Penang and Malacca, which had previously been crown colonies and part of the Straits Settlements. Singapore at this point was not a part of the Federation of Malaya but remained a crown colony, albeit one clearly on the road to greater autonomy (it held its first general election in 1955). Soon afterward, the People's Action Party led by Lee Kuan Yew became the dominant force in Singaporean politics and still is today. Aside from administrative boundaries, roads and railways are indicated here, highlighting the paucity of infrastructure in the north and east of the country. The limited number of roads and railways running north and south down the peninsula had been an important factor in Japan's rapid conquest of Malaya in late 1941 and early 1942, and they were equally important in the 'Malayan Emergency,' which was ongoing when this map was made. The handful of roads were ripe spots for ambushes by Communist insurgents, which led to widespread use of herbicides and defoliants by the British to remove roadside vegetation, making it difficult for insurgents to launch attacks. From Malaya to Malaysia British Malaya was a combination of quasi-independent protectorates like Kedah (the Unfederated States), more directly controlled but still nominally autonomous Federated States (based in Kuala Lumpur), and the Straits Settlements (Singapore, Penang, Malacca, and Dinding, here as Pangkor Island), which were crown colonies. Though all were enmeshed in a wider colonial system and often considered as part of a single entity, this tripartite system lasted until after the Second World War. Malaya was an important piece in Britain's global empire, especially as a source of tin and rubber. This fact also made the peninsula a target for a Japanese invasion in late 1941. Britain's defense of the peninsula was disastrous, culminating in the embarrassing surrender of Singapore, smashing the façade of British military invincibility. The occupation was trying for all inhabitants of Malaya, especially ethnic Chinese communities who suffered wholesale massacres at the hands of Japanese troops. After the war, as elsewhere, Britain found it difficult to reassert control and was forced to undertake moves towards independence. The war and the immediate postwar situation had pushed the states and colonies towards a federal union, which adopted a Westminster parliamentary system and a fixed-term monarch that rotated among the rulers of the various constituent states. The independence of the Federation (1957) and creation of Malaysia (1963) were heavily influenced by Cold War geopolitics. Britain was aided in its plan of gradual drawdown by the recklessness of the most militant independence activists and rebels, led by Communists, who repeatedly committed terrorist attacks that alienated the population and justified a continued British military presence. The defeat of the Communists in the 'Malayan Emergency' came to be seen as a model 'counter-insurgency,' though attempts to repeat its success elsewhere have failed. With the Communists on the back foot by 1955, and with a new Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who enjoyed broad public support, Malaya was ready to move towards independence. Although there was intercommunal strife and widespread anti-colonial sentiment, the handoff to independence in Malaya was relatively smooth and the country subsequently maintained closer ties with Britain than Burma or India, including as an anti-communist bulwark in Southeast Asia (the dominant political party of the independence era, the United Malays National Organization, was strongly supported by the Britis.

1st Edition. Good. Centerfold stabilized on verso. A few minor margin tears reinforced and repaired on verso. Size 17.5 x 21 Inches. This is the first edition of John Thomson's 1814 map of Southeast Asia and the East India Islands. A Closer Look Centered on Borneo, Thomson's map covers from China and Hainan south to Sumatra and Java, and eastward as far as the Philippines and New Guinea. Includes the Pearl River Delta at its northernmost edge and names Macao and Lantao Island (Hong Kong). The Singapore Straits are identified, as are Bintan and Batam Islands, but the Island of Singapore itself is unnamed. Apocryphal Island of St. John Just to the east of Philippine Mindanao, sets the fictitious island of St. John's. The fiction of St. John's Island originates with the Portuguese cooption of manuscript mappings of this region acquired from the Magellan expedition. Its first published reference is on Ortelius' 1570 Asiae Nova Descripto . Afterward, numerous mariners, including Dampier, claimed to have visited it. However, most were most likely mistaking it for other nearby islands. Over the years, the location of St. John's Island thus migrated westwards towards Mindanao's eastern coast, where it resided until about 1850, when the island finally disappeared from cartographic record. In later variants of this map, Thomson expresses doubt about the island, naming it 'Doubtful', but in this early edition, he seems confident . Publication History and Census This map is a steel plate engraving by Thomas Clerk and was prepared by John Thomson for inclusion in the 1817 edition of Thomson's New General Atlas . This is the 1st edition, with the Clerk imprint under the title. References: Rumsey 1007.043. Phillips (Atlases) 731. Newberry Library: Ayer 135 T4 1817.

Very good condition. Original centerfold exhibits minor toning. Blank on verso. Size 12 x 16.5 Inches. A beautiful example of Rigobert Bonne's 1771 decorative map the East Indies. Covers from the Gulf of Siam (Gulf of Thailand) and Malacca (Malaysia) eastward to include parts of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, the Celebes, parts of Cambodia, the southern Philippine Islands, and New Guinea. Offers considerable detail of the region. Notes the Straight of Singapore (Det. de Sin Capura) and shows but does not label the island of Singapore. In Borneo, this map provides good detail along the Banjermassin or Barito River, detailing numerous villages and trading stations. Names Bali and Lombok as well as Batavia. Several of the southern islands are drawn with their southern shores ghosted in - suggesting an uncertain coastline. This is also the case with much of New Guinea (Nouvelle Guinee), which was largely unexplored well into the 19th century. Rhumb lines throughout. Arrows in the lower right show the direction of prevailing winds during the dry season and the monsoon season. A fine map of the region. Drawn by R. Bonne in 1771 for issue as plate no. D 26 in Jean Lattre's 1776 issue of the Atlas Moderne . References: Rumsey 2612.056. Phillips (Atlases) 664. National Maritime Museum, 215.

Good. Some centerfold toning and offsetting. Size 17.5 x 21 Inches. This is John Thomson's 1814 map of Southeast Asia and the East India Islands. A Closer Look Centered on Borneo, Thomson's map covers from China and Hainan south to Sumatra and Java, and eastward as far as the Philippines and New Guinea. Includes the Pearl River Delta at its northern most edge and names Macao and Lantao Island (Hong Kong). The Singapore Straits are identified, as are Bintan and Batam Islands, but the Island of Singapore itself is unnamed. Apocryphal Island of St. John Just to the east of Philippine Mindanao, sets the apocryphal island of St. John's. The fiction of St. John's Island probably originates with the Portuguese cooption of manuscript mappings of this region acquired form Magellan expedition. Its first published reference is on Ortelius' 1570 Asiae Nova Descripto . Afterwards, numerous mariners, including Dampier, claimed to have visited it, however, most were most likely mistaking it for other islands in the region. Over the years the location of St. John's Island thus migrated westwards towards Mindanao's eastern coast where it resided until about 1850, when the island finally disappeared from cartographic record. In the earliest editions this map Thomson seems confident of St. John's Island, but in this edition, he annotates it with 'Doubtful'. Publication History and Census This map is a steel plate engraving by Thomas Clerk and was prepared by John Thomson for inclusion in the 1817 edition of Thomson's New General Atlas . This is likely the 2nd edition, with the imprint of Clerk removed and minor changes made to the cartography - as noted above. References: Rumsey 1007.043. Phillips (Atlases) 731. Newberry Library: Ayer 135 T4 1817.

Good. Full professional restoration. Mounted on linen. Area of infill reinstatement to upper left corner of border. Soiling. Some manuscript notations. Size 24.25 x 37.75 Inches. This 1851 nautical chart or maritime map of the Strait of Singapore and the southern part of the Malacca Strait is considered James Horsburgh's most desirable chart. Made for the British East India Company, this is one of the first charts to accurately map these heavily trafficked but treacherous straits. A Closer Look The chart covers the Malay peninsula roughly from Penang (Prince of Wales Island) to the island of Singapore and from the Sumatran coast to the China Sea. It features 16 profile views and countless depth soundings, especially around the dangerous southern part of the Malacca Strait in the vicinity of Singapore. Horsburgh's Sources The basic cartography can be traced to Jean-Baptiste d'Après de Mannevillette's map of 1745 and Thomas Jefferys' map of 1794. Some of the hydrography is based upon Horsburgh's own survey work completed between 1790 and 1806. It also includes the work of other cartographers and navigators collected and compiled by Horsburgh. The coastlines and soundings on the Sumatra side of the Strait are based upon the soundings of the Bombay Marines Lieutenants W. Rose and Robert Moresby. The Strait of Singapore is based on the government surveys of John Turnbull Thomson. The Malay side of the Malacca Strait benefits from soundings completed by Lieutenant C. V. Ward of the Indian Navy. This Edition - Why it is important The present edition exhibits updates by to 1851. The chart was reissued with more extensive updates in 1857, including a more detailed depiction of the banks and shoals to the west of Singapore in the Malacca Strait. Some of the updates that were committed to print in 1857 are present in the manuscript on this example (Compare with Geographicus singapore-horsburgh-1857.) This suggests that the present chart was either updated by a mariner c. 1857 or used to record new soundings. Singapore - Historical Context As this map went to press, Singapore was becoming increasingly prosperous and increasingly dangerous. Convict transports through the Straits of Singapore to penal colonies were blamed for street gangs, criminal secret societies, and other violence. At the same time, relations between the merchant and governing classes became tense. The Straits Settlements Governor at the time, William John Butterworth, was nicknamed 'Butterpot the Great' by angry merchants who blamed him for corrupt officials and inept civic management. Also, word of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 came to Singapore, leading to fears that the large Indian convict population would revolt there as well. This led to a general panic that had long-term ramifications for the Indian population of Singapore and the Straits Settlements in general. Publication History and Census This map was compiled by James Horsburgh. It was engraved on behalf of the British Admiralty Office in 1857. Horsburgh first published this chart in 1826, and it was updated in 1844, 1847, 1851, and 1857. All examples and editions are extremely scarce and desirable. References: OCLC 19000709. Durand, F., and Curtis, Richard Dato', Map of Malaya and Borneo: Discovery, Statehood and Progress, #68.

Good. Light water damage around border. Verso reinforcement to centerfold. Closed margin tears professionally repaired on verso. Size 37 x 25 Inches. This is an 1888 Dépot des Cartes et Plans de la Marine nautical map of the Malay Peninsula and Singapore. The map reflects growing French influence in and around Singapore, a major trading partner for French Indochina. A Closer Look Coverage embraces the southern Malay Peninsula and surrounding seas from Pulau Redang (Redang Island) to Pulau Batam and Pulau Bintan and from the Malay Peninsula to the Anambas Archipelago. Based on a British Admiralty chart, the current example has been modified to include observations made by French officers. The French in Singapore In the late 1800s, the French community in Singapore grew as France expanded its colonial influence in Southeast Asia, particularly with its establishment of French Indochina (modern-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia). Singapore, a British colony, became an essential trading and diplomatic outpost for the French in the region. French merchants, diplomats, and missionaries used Singapore as a hub to engage with the larger Southeast Asian market and as a point of access to the region's resources and goods. The French also contributed to Singapore's cultural landscape by establishing schools, religious institutions, and businesses, creating a small yet influential community that mingled with the diverse populations of the island. A Closer Look oThis map was published by the Dépôt des Cartes et Plans de la Marine in 1888.

Very good. Crisp dark impression suggestive of an early strike off the plate. Original platemark visible. Left margin expertly extended where originally joined to volume. Minor verso repair same area. Blank on verso. Size 20.5 x 24.5 Inches. This is a superb example of Francois Valentijn's 1726 map of Malaya (Malaysia and Singapore) and Sumatra. This is the earliest published map to present a sophisticated treatment of Malaya and Sumatra, and the model upon which most subsequent maps through the late 18th century were based. It is, moreover, one of the earliest maps to expound upon the indigenous polities of Malaya. A Closer Look Oriented to the east, Valentijn's map covers from the Island of Junsalan (Penang / Prince of Wales Island / Pulu Pinang) south as far as the Straits of Sunda and west to Atsjien (Banda Aceh) at the western tip of Sumatra. It extends eastwards to the Anambas Islands and the Bangka-Belitung Islands. The cartographer identifies various polities as well as numerous coastal settlements and cities. Topography is rendered in profile with hydrographic content present in the Strait of Malacca. Valentijn identifies seven separate kingdoms within the peninsula. Historical Context The presentation thus represents a major change in Malayan politics following the Dutch capture of Portuguese Malacca in 1606. The Dutch forged a peaceful arrangement with the Sultan of Johor, leading to peace and prosperity in the region. This prosperity, combined with the decline of the Sunnite of Aceh in northern Sumatra, allowed for the rapid development and expansion of smaller polities throughout the peninsula, including Johor, Perak, Pahang, Patani, Kedah, and Ligor - the latter two of which, as noted here, fell under the sway of Siam. Valentijn, moreover, has recorded some 80 place names in Malaya alone and far more in Sumatra, surpassing all predecessor maps. Publication History and Census This map was issued in Amsterdam in Francois Valentijn's 1726 Oud en nieuw Oost-Indien. It was published by Joannes van Braam and Gerard onder de Linden, whose names appear on the imprint. Today this important map is very scarce. References: Curtis, R. and Durand, Fr., Maps of Malaysia and Borneo: Discovery, Statehood and Progress, pages 49-50, no. 38. OCLC 871359842.

Very good. Original centerfold. Wide original margins. Platemark visible. Old color. Size 17 x 21 Inches. A stunning full-color c. 1710 map of Sumatra, Malay, the straits of Malacca, and Singapore by Gerard Valk and Petrus Schenk under the imprint of Valk and Schenk. A Closer Look The map is oriented to the east with north on the left. While the map focuses on Sumatra, then an essential stop on the Dutch dominated Pepper Trade, it also depicts much of the surrounding region, including the critical Straits of Malacca, the southern Malay peninsula, and the Straits of Singapore, here identified as 'Nieuwe Straet.' Singapore Island does not appear as such, but a peninsula south of Johore is identified as 'Senasur,' clearly a precursor of 'Singapore'. The Strait of Malacca is mapped with shallow areas noted. Several important locations on the west coast of Malay, including Malacca and Jahore (Ihor), are noted. Numerous points along the southwest coast are mapped on Sumatra, but the only city identified is Aceh (Atchem). Dutch Interest Around this time, the Netherlands became obsessed with this region. The VOC seized control of Malacca from the Portuguese in 1644 with an eye on Malay's rich tin deposits. The tin region was controlled by the Sultan of Aceh, who was unfriendly to the Dutch. In 1650, the Dutch allied with Johor in an attempt to disrupt shipping in the Straits of Malacca. Publication History Like most maps by Valk and Schenk, this map is derived from either Joan Blaeu or Jan Jansson. Since both cartographers often issued nearly identical maps, it is hard to know who originated the cartography. Nonetheless, Valk and Schenk maps are derived from the Jansson plates, which the partners acquired in 1694. References: Van der Krogt, P. (Atlantes) 8530:1. OCLC 36189613. Suárez, T., Early Mapping of Southeast Asia, p. 207.

Good. Wear along fold lines. Periodic foxing and other areas of discoloration. Areas of loss at top-right and bottom-right corners. Verso reinforcements with tissue paper on fold lines and along edge. Some pencil annotations. Size 18 x 17 Inches. An important map of the Malay Peninsula by Dominic Daniel Daly, lithographed by Edward Weller and published in 1882 in the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society . Daly's surveys of portions of the peninsula were the first scientific surveys conducted there. The map depicts the peninsula as British influence over the indigenous sultanates was expanding rapidly, aided by a boom in tin mining. A Closer Look Coverage ranges from the southern portions of Kedah and Patani, both quasi-autonomous sultanates under the control of Siam, to the Straits of Malacca, the tip of the Malay Peninsula, and Singapore. Rivers, mountains, and settlements are noted, with greater frequency in areas where the British had a longer presence or proximity. Other areas of the map are blank or noted as unexplored, though certain rivers of the interior of the peninsula are well mapped, particularly the Pahang River and its tributaries. Although the British had charted the coasts of the Malay Peninsula and territories under their direct or indirect control prior to Daly's surveys, the interior was an unknown and foreboding landscape, thought to be filled with near-uninhabitable swamps and jungles. Tin Boom The British-controlled or affiliated territories on the west side of the peninsula were undergoing a rapid transformation due to a tin mining boom on par with the gold rushes of the 19th century. Workers from near and far converged on mining regions, often organized by ethnic and native place associations that also facilitated financing and trade for the mines. The rush for riches caused conflict both between and within these communities, which strengthened British claims that they were a necessary overseer and referee of the tin industry. Kuala Lumpur Among other features, this map is notable for an early reference to Kuala Lumpur ('K. Lumpor') on the Klang River. Resembling gold rush boom towns on other continents, Kuala Lumpur's early history was turbulent, with violence and fires common, and it resembled a miner's camp more than a proper town. The city was effectively ruled by a Guangdong-born Hakka named Yap Ah Loy (???), known as 'Captain China,' who acted as an intermediary between the Chinese laborers, the Malay elite, and the British. (After Yap's death, the 'Capitan China' title would be passed on to others; similar 'Captains' existed for Arab and Indian immigrant communities as well). Kuala Lumpur continued to grow on the back of the tin boom, and by 1880 the British 'Resident' of Selangor had moved there from Klang (where it is still listed here). In 1896, the British established the Federated Malay States and designated Kuala Lumpur as their capital. Political Changes Other political changes followed, including the reorganization and renaming of territories. 'Province Wellesley' here had been acquired by the East India Company in 1800 to provide food and a defensive buffer zone for Penang, as existed for Dinding to the south. In 1867, Penang, along with Singapore, Malacca, and Dinding, became the Straits Settlements, a crown colony, and the entirety of Province Wellesley was renamed Penang. Additionally, borders between territories, including those controlled by Siam, were fixed in the following decades, thanks in part to the surveying work undertaken by Daly. Publication History and Census This map was drawn by Henry Sharbau, based on surveys by Dominic Daniel Daly, and lithographed by Edward Weller for publication in the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society in 1882. It is independently cataloged among the holdings of the University of Chicago Library. Daly's accompanying article, 'Surveys and explorations in the native states of the Malayan Peninsula 1875-82,' is cataloged among the.

Very good. Minor wear on original fold lines. Some archival verso reinforcement. Size 18 x 23.5 Inches. This uncommon map of Singapore city was issued c. 1930 by Printers Ltd. The map is based on surveys compiled by the Singapore Improvement Trust. Centered on the Downtown Core, the map covers what is today central Singapore from the Labrador Nature Preserve to Marine Parade, extending inland as far as the MacRitchie Reservoir. Streets, districts, rail lines (both proposed and extent), golf courses, and more are noted. The map notes the Civil Aerodrome, or Kallang Airfield, construction on which began in 1931 and finished in 1937. The presence of the Aerodrome here validates our dating, since only the outline of the space is provided, with none of buildings or other structures noted. Singapore Improvement Trust The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) is a former government organization responsible for urban planning in Singapore. Formally established in 1927 under the Singapore Improvement Ordinance, it was modeled after similar organizations in India. The SIT was involved in the development of a 'Master Plan', which set out Singapore's developmental direction, from 1952 to 1958. In the late 1950s, plans were set out to replace the SIT with two departments - housing and planning - culminating in two bills that were passed in 1959. With the establishment of the successor organizations by the government of Singapore, the Housing and Development Authority and the Planning Authority, in 1960, the SIT was dissolved. Publication History and Census This map is based on a map supplied by the Singapore Improvement Trust. It was issued to accompany the Singapore and Malayan Directory . We see other maps from the Singapore and Malayan Directory , a few with the same title, but as this map was issued in multiple editions from 1928 through 1950, and none are dated, it is difficult to pin down a census with greater precision. References: OCLC 55852962.

Very good. Slight wear. Some creases and spots of discoloration in the margins. Faded annotations in top-left portion of the map. Size 23 x 34.5 Inches. A beautiful and rare 1839 French Depot-General de la Marine nautical chart or maritime map of the East Indies or Insular Southeast Asia - including Singapore. The size and level of detail is impressive, reflecting the importance of the chart as representing the pinnacle of hydrographical knowledge at the time. A Closer Look Based upon the work of the British hydrographer James Horsburgh, namely his groundbreaking work Directions for sailing to and from the East Indies, China, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, and the interjacent ports , this elegantly hand-colored map covers Sumatra, Java, and Borneo in full, as well as Malay (Malacca) south of Lancava and parts of the Celebes. It further specifically includes the islands of Singapore (Sincapoor), Bali (Bally), Lombok (Lombock), Krakatoa (Crockatoa), and Komodo (Comodo). Soundings, anchorages, shoals, hazards, and supplementary information on currents, longitude, latitude, and more are indicated. Soundings are measures in brasses , a French unit popular at the time roughly similar to a fathom; a table of conversion to meters is provided at bottom-left. Islands, coastal settlements, and other landward features are noted in fantastic detail. Publication History and Census This chart was prepared by Pierre Daussy in 1839 based on the hydrography of James Horsburgh, engraved by Chassant (no given name known), with text by Jacques-Marie Hacq, under the direction of the Dépôt-général de la Marine. The map was reissued several times through the 1880s with updates and additions, but the date of 1839 and other identifying information (such as 'No. 889' in the top-right corner) remained, leading to a high degree of variation in cataloging which makes a comprehensive census difficult. This edition, presumably the first as it is the least accurate, differs from more widely available examples in several respects, such as the representation of Singapore and the small islands south of Celebes. Nevertheless, in any edition this chart is quite rare, especially with such exquisite hand-coloring. References: OCLC 888127755, 902603727.

1st Edition. Very good. Even overall toning. Light wear along original fold lines. Size 27.25 x 58.5 Inches. This is a first edition 1927 British Admiralty nautical chart or maritime map of the eastern portion of the Singapore Strait. The map was issued during the Interwar Period when British naval hegemony was waning and the 'Singapore Strategy' attempted to turn the island colony into a 'Gibraltar of the East.' A Closer Look Coverage embraces from Singapore Island to Pulo Bintan (Pulau Bintan) and from Johore and the Johore Strait to Pulo Batam (Pulau Batam). Depth soundings, measured in fathoms, populate the map. Various reefs, shoals, and other nautical hazards appear as well, along with some coastal landmarks. Yellow dots mark the few lights present in the region. A profile view of the coastline between Carter Shoal and South Ledge appears along the upper border in Johore. A table of tidal information is situated in the lower right corner. The Singapore Strategy As this map was being printed, Singapore became central to the Singapore Strategy, a naval defense policy instituted by the British Empire between 1919 and 1941. Following World War I (1914 - 1918), the Royal Navy faced challenges to its long-established supremacy by the rising naval forces of the United States and Imperial Japan. While the growing U.S. Navy, a strong ally, was not a serious cause of concern, it quickly became apparent that the Imperial Japanese naval buildup would clash with British interests in the Far East. The British determined to establish a 'Gibraltar of the East,' zoning in on Singapore for its exceptional strategic position. Starting work in 1919, the British began a series of extensive improvements to the port at an expense of some 500,000 GBP. Completed over the subsequent twenty years, Singapore was outfitted with the largest dry dock in the world, the third largest wet dock, and enough fuel tanks to support the entire Royal Navy for six months. The island's defenses also included an enormous Royal Air Force base and mounted 15-inch stationary guns. Despite what appeared to be a highly defensible position, in 1942, when hostilities finally broke out between the British Empire and Imperial Japan, Singapore fell to Japanese invaders after just fifteen days of fighting, an event described by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the 'worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.' Publication History and Census This chart was published by the Admiralty in 1927 as Admiralty Chart 3834. We note a single cataloged example, which is part of the collection at the British Library. References: OCLC 557485932.

Very good condition. Minor dampstaining upper left corner. Some wear along fold lines. Size 42.25 x 29.5 Inches. This is a rare 1941 map of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Singapore, including portions of Thailand, British Burma, and French Indochina, printed in Taiwan for the Information (Intelligence) Department of the colonial Taiwan Governor's Office in Taipei. It was produced on November 30, 1941, less than two weeks before the Japanese invasion of British Malaya that coincided with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7 (December 8 local time). Along with British Malaya and Singapore, the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), the Philippines, and several other Western colonial possessions were invaded on or shortly after December 8. In the years and decades before this invasion, Taiwan had become an important node of information on 'South Seas' (Nany?) Affairs, and served as a staging area for the invasion, including an intelligence gathering. The map includes two insets, one at top-right of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (??????) with Taiwan at the center and the area represented here shaded in red, and one at bottom-left of Singapore (???????). Essential Wartime Resources The map extensively notes agricultural, mineral, and other resources such as pepper, sugar, wood, and iron. Japanese interest in Southeast Asia was primarily driven by the scarcity of certain resources in Japan's existing empire, and the desire to build an autarkic sphere (the economic aspect of the Co-Prosperity Sphere) that could sustain a long-term war with the United States and other Western powers. Rubber (??) was a particularly important resource for the Japanese, which the British and Dutch planted extensively on plantations in Malaya and on Sumatra. The map also notes critical infrastructure (roads, railways, bridges, ports, shipping lines), terrain features, waterways, major cities, and international borders. There can be little doubt, then, that this map was prepared for the Taiwan Governor's Office to inform and assist it in preparations for the coming invasion of Malaya, Singapore, and Sumatra. The 'Silent Invasion' Japan's invasion of British Malaya is famous in military history for its remarkable speed. As the map shows, only one railway and one or two major roads, depending on the area, ran north to south through the peninsula. The British tried to slow the Japanese advance by blowing bridges and adopting scorched earth tactics, but Japanese preparations (such as pontoon bridges) and speed proved impossible to counteract. Memorably, many Japanese troops had been provided bicycles and were able to quickly and 'silently' move down the Malay Peninsula at a considerable pace. The British, long fearing a naval attack by Japan, built fortifications and defenses in Singapore, making it a 'Gibraltar of the East.' However, they were far less prepared for an invasion from the Malay Peninsula, across the Straits of Johor. The rapid Japanese advance through Malaya, the war in Europe drawing the bulk of British attention, and the sinking of the best British ships in Asia (the Repulse and Prince of Wales) left Singapore ill-prepared for a defense, and the British garrison surrendered on February 15, 1942. The day before, Japanese troops had landed on Sumatra, and had captured the island by the end of March. The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was an imperial concept created and promulgated for occupied Asian populations from 1940 through 1945 by the Empire of Japan. Announced by Japanese Foreign Minister Hachir? Arita on June 29, 1940, the Co-Prosperity Sphere was intended as a self-sufficient 'bloc of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers.' It covered Southeast Asia, Eastern China, Manchuria, Japan, the East Indies, and parts of Oceania. The idea promoted the cultural and economic unity of East Asians, Southeast Asians, and Oceanians with the underpinning assumption t.

Very good condition. Blank on verso. Original platemark visible. Size 10.5 x 6.5 Inches. An exceptional and scarce 1727 Pieter van der Aa map of Sumatra, the Strait of Malacca, Singapore, and the southern part of the Malaya Peninsula. Taking full advantage of the small paper size, this map is oriented to the northwest with Sumatra presented vertically. The map locates the important VOC trade centers in both Sumatra and Malaysia, including Atchem (Aceh), Palimbam (Palembang), Malacca and Ihor (Johore). Singapore itself is not identified but the Strait of Singapore is named and the island that would later become Singapore is rendered. An unusual decorative cartouche appears in the upper left quadrant. This map was issued for Van der Aa's scarce La Galerie agreable du Monde . Only 100 are known to have been printed, and so, while none know how many have survived, this map may be considered exceedingly scarce. References: OCLC 690290685.