1890 Spanish Map of the Philippines from the Spanish-American War

This is a c. 1890 Spanish map of the Philippines. The map depicts the region from Pasaleng Bay, northern Luzon to Mindoro and from the South China Sea to the Philippine Sea. Highly detailed, numerous cities, towns, and villages are labeled. Several different administrative districts, marked by different abbreviations, are also noted. Roads, railroads, and trails crisscross the islands. Myriad locations along the coastline of Luzon and northern Mindoro are also labeled. These notations are explained in a key situated in the lower left corner. A manuscript notation, included in the key, informs the viewer that the roads which are illustrated crossing mountains in the northeast are no more than trails.

Most likely used during the Spanish-American War by American troops, since the map is in Spanish this implies that it predates the war. The United States got involved following an explosion on the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor and resulted in American acquisition of Spanish colonial holdings in the Pacific. The U.S. Navy's Asiatic Squadron won a decisive victory in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898 and hostilities ended with a surrender signed on August 14th, 1898. By December 10th, the Spanish had officially ceded the Philippines to the United States.

This map was most likely published c. 1890 by Spanish officials in the Philippines.