The Survey of the Shores and Islands of the Persian Gulf is published from original materials in the India Office Library and Records, London, by agreement with the British Library. The collection has been prepared for publication, and the introduction written, by Andrew S. Cook, Map Archivist, India Office Library and Records. This publication represents a remarkable collection of the first complete survey of the Gulf coast by the Bombay Marine. The collection comprises contemporary textual descriptions, maritime charts, harbour maps and hand-painted water-colour coastal views. The text and the harbour plans provide the first British portrayal of coastal settlements including Muscat, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc. The collection includes 20 paintings in water-colour of the Coast of Oman and the Trucial States painted by Lt. Houghton from on board ship during the survey.