1950 Baille Pictorial Map of Asia (Messageries Maritimes)

This is a c. 1950 Hervé Baille pictorial map of Asia issued to promote passage service Messageries Maritime's newest vessels: : Cambodge, Laos, and Viet-Nam. The three impressive vessels dominate the page while en route from Colombo to Yokohama. Additional, pictorial vignettes highlight historic sites, including Angkor Wat and the Potala Palace.

Travel to Asia

The month-long voyages began at Marseille, and then called at Port Said and Aden (which are not on the map), then Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong, Kobe (only on the eastbound voyage), and Yokohama. English text on the verso describes the three new vessels and their richly appointed amenities.

Messageries Maritimes

Messageries Maritimes (1852 - 1977) was a French merchant shipping company initially founded as Compagnie des Services Maritimes des Messageries Nationales. In 1853, following the proclamation of the Second Empire by Napoleon III, the company expanded, rebranding itself as Compagnie des Services Maritimes Imperiales. After the Franco-Prussian War (1870 - 1871), and the foundation of the Third Republic, the company again changed its name, this time to Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes (MM). From 1871 to 1914, MM enjoyed a golden age. Their ships were easily recognizable for their distinctive silhouette and white paint. World War II (1939 - 1945) decimated the company’s fleet which had been split between the Allies and Vichy France. By the end of the war, only 21 ships remained. After the war, the company commissioned nine combination passenger and cargo ocean liners - three devoted to the Indochina-Far East line. The firm remains active under the name Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Hervé Baille and published by Messageries Maritimes c. 1950. We note a single cataloged example in OCLC, at the State Library of New South Wales. This map appears occasionally on the private market.