An important survey of Beijing and its environs performed by the Surveying Branch of the Prussian Army. Names in German and Chinese.

This large attractive map of Beijing and its environs is part of a series of European maps produced by several members of the Eight Nation Alliance after their return to the capital at the end of the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-90. During their march on Beijing, all the members of the Alliance were hampered by their lack of cartographic knowledge of the region and the city; this was something they were determined to correct after the re-opening of the European Legations in Beijing. The French Service Geographique de l’Armee was believed to have produced a large manuscript wall map of Beijing and environs during the Rebellion, but that has now been lost; the British produced several maps of Beijing just after the Rebellion and in 1903, the Prussian Cartographic Department also produced a map of the city.

It is impossible to tell how much of these maps was based on original surveys by the various bodies responsible and how much was transcribed from surveys by local cartographers but it is most likely that it was a combination of both as many of these surveys are bi-lingual with the corresponding European nomenclature including Chinese characters nearby. 

This survey was issued by the mapping section of the Prussian Army in 1907. As well as major government buildings, European Legations and the famous city gates to the regional divisions of the city, the map also showcases the intricate web and density of the surrounding settlements and the multiple canals around Beijing. Two notes on the lower left margin of the map state its sources. The information within the walls of the city was compiled from a survey made by the German East Asian Expeditionary Force in 1900-1 while the information outside the walls was based on a survey by the mapping department of the German garrison stationed in the Legation in 1902-5. The lower margin also bears a table to aid pronunciation, translates geographical terms and provides a scale of the map.

There is also a stamp bearing the name of the firm “R. Eisenschmidt” which was founded in the late 19th century as a specialist in geographical and surveying supplies. A small note in the lower centre states that Eisenschmidt were the main retailer for this map. The firm still exists today and now specialises in aerial pilot supplies.

The map was obviously highly regarded by other European nations as in 1909 the British War Office published essentially the same map, albeit in English, with a credit of “from the German Staff Map of 1907 with additions” below the title. 

All these maps of Beijing and its environs from the early 20th century are rare. They were almost always published for administrative or bureaucratic use in small numbers and were very limited in their availability for retail. Even in institutions their numbers are scarce.

This example has been segmented and backed on linen. Printed colour. [SEAS5507]