A Draught of the Bay on the S. W. side of Island Timoan...The Whole Surveyed & Drawn with Accuracy by Wm. Nichelson, Master of His Majesty's Ship Elizabeth, in January 1763.

London: William Herbert, 1776. First printing. Maps. Good + overall. An important map that was a restocking place for British East Indian ships traveling back from Canton, China. The first printing of Captain William Nichelson's chart and profile view of Tioman Island (Malaysia) was published in the third edition of William Herbert's "A New Directory for the East Indies". It included an extension fly leaf of "References. Remarks. Directions" . The map subsequently appeared within the 1776, 1780 and 1787 editions of the Directory and this appears to be from one of them, as it has the "References" section printed to the left of the map, with its own platemark.

Timoan Island was a strategic navigation point between the Straits of Malacca and the Far East, and is located on the South China Sea off the east coast of mainland Malaysia. It has been described by Time magazine as on of the worlds most beautiful islands, and is now a nature preserve and one of the most popular scuba diving sites in Southeast Asia.

Folio, 20 x 16", with no folds. Chart printed on the same sheet as engraved text, but with separate impression marks. The "Reference" section measures 16 x 4.25". Printed on laid paper watermarked "IRG". Some faint offsetting on the verso of the map that rested behind it in the Directory. Several small closed tears supported archivally; two triangular chips into the neat line, one corner margin lacking. No foxing or other defects to the paper.