1880 L. W. Kip First Missionary Map of Xiamen (Amoy), Fujian, China

Published in 1880, this is the first edition of Dr. Leonard W. Kip's map of missionary activity in the vicinity of Amoy (Xiamen), Fijian, China. Derived directly from Kip's 20 years of missionary activity in the region, this was, when issued, the best map of the Xiamen region yet published. Centered on Amoy, the map covers the Fujian coast roughly from Meizhou Bay to Dongshan Bay. It extends inland roughly as far as the picturesque Longyan (Leng-Na, 龙岩市), the heartland of the Hakka People, with their iconic tulou (土楼) architecture. The map notes countless villages as well as footpaths between villages, notes on the navigability of rivers, mountains, and even, pertinent to missionary work, sites where there are 'several men who seek Christian instruction.' The map also notes the sites where Kip's American Reformed Mission (A) had stations, as well as posts of the English Presbyterian Mission (E), London Mission (L), and missions operated out of Fuzhou (F).

Kip's Missionary Work among the Hakka

Kip was active in and around Amoy from 1861 to 1899. He particularly enjoyed field work and spent much of his time on foot aboard 'gospel boats' traveling between distant villages. Kip's greatest energy focused on proselytization of the tribal Hakka people, known for their iconic communal tolous, essentially fully contained multi story villages. The 'Hakka Region' and numerous villages are noted.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic effects. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it emerged as the dominate method of color printing.

Publication History and Census

The present map, issued in chromolithograph by the Hatch Lithographic Company of New York is the 1880 first edition of Kip's map. A significantly revised and updated version of this map, also crediting Kip was published in London by Unwin Brothers in 1902 and 1904. A further revised and updated Chinese edition was published with pinyin text in 1907 and 1909, potentially for postal use.

While the more advanced maps rare, appearing in a few institutional collections, we have identified no other examples of this American 1880 edition. The map in its present edition, is referenced in some missionary records, but exists in no known institutional collections. The presently offered map is potentially the only surviving example.