Folding lithograph map, sectionalised and laid on linen. The
map details the operations of the 1858-60 military campaign by the Allied
Forces in China, which brought an end to the Second Opium War.

The geography of the map covers the land between the Gulf of
Petcheli (Gulf of Bohai) and Pekin (Beijing). A focal point of the map is the
city of Tien-Tsin (Tianjing) found on the lower-centre quadrant, where the
Treaty of Tien-Tsin was signed between China and the Allies on the 26th of June
1858. This treaty opened more Chinese ports to foreign trade, permitted foreign
legations in the Chinese capital Beijing, allowed Christian missionary
activity, and effectively legalized the import of opium. The Treaty is commonly
regarded as ending the beginning phase of the Second Opium War.

The rest of the map covers an area in north-east China that was
the site of the Allied invasion beginning in the latter half of 1858,
considered the final phase of the Second Opium War. The invasion was caused by
the break-down of negotiations between British and Chinese officials, stemming
from several inflammatory political actions by the British and the Chinese
regarding the legality of the British opium trade in China. This break-down was
intensified by the British perception that China was disregarding the terms of
a Treaty the two nations signed at the end of the First Opium War in 1842.

The map features several manuscript corrections and
additions in a contemporary hand. Its cartographer, James Wyld, found
commercial success by making maps that depicted ongoing political events,
leveraging his impressive publishing operation to rapidly produce maps of
political events whilst the situations depicted remained current in the minds
of his clientele. Whilst commercially lucrative, the speed with which these
maps needed to be produced often left them containing minor mistakes.

The map highlights the locations of several military
conflicts that occurred along the Gulf of Petcheli between China and the Allied
forces of Britain, Russia, and the United States. Locations shown include the
Allied landing sites upon the coast, as well as the decisive battle of the Taku
Forts. The map also features a scale displayed along the right stretch of the
lower border, where 5cm equals 10 English miles. A reference is shown along the
center-left stretch of the lower border: “Allied Positions” are marked in a
shaky red underline, whilst “Chinese Positions” is featured as a part of the
reference, although it has not been filled in and does not appear anywhere on
the map. 

Due to their ephemeral nature and short lived printing span, these "events" maps are extremely unusual. 

The map features a contemporary colour outline. [SEAS 5398]