1861 Potter Map of Shanghai, China (Taiping Rebellion)

A rare French-language map of Shanghai, China, published in 1861 in the wake of the Battle of Shanghai, the Second Opium War, and the Taiping Rebellion.

Taiping Rebellion

The Taiping Rebellion (1850 - 1864) was one of the deadliest conflicts in Chinese history. Led by Hong Xiuquan, a self-proclaimed prophet and the leader of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the rebellion sought to overthrow the Qing and establish a new Christian-based regime. The movement gained significant support, particularly among the rural poor, due to its promise of social and economic reforms, including the redistribution of land and the abolition of the traditional Confucian social hierarchy. However, the rebellion was marked by brutal warfare, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 20 to 30 million people. The Qing government, with the help of Western powers, eventually suppressed the rebellion, but the conflict severely weakened the dynasty and contributed to its eventual downfall.

1861 Battle of Shanghai

The 1861 Battle of Shanghai was fought between the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and an alliance of Qing Dynasty troops, foreign mercenaries, and Western powers, primarily Britain and France. The Taiping forces, aiming to capture Shanghai as part of their broader campaign to overthrow the Qing, launched a fierce attack on the city. However, the well-defended and strategically crucial Shanghai, bolstered by Western military technology and expertise, managed to resist the assault. The battle marked one of the key moments where foreign intervention played a crucial role in the conflict, with Western powers seeking to protect their political and commercial interests. The failure of the Taiping forces to capture Shanghai was a significant setback, and the battle further cemented the collaboration between the Qing government and foreign powers in suppressing the rebellion.

Publication History and Census

This map is unusual in that it is in French, but the imprint is J. D. Potter, a prominent London-based agent for the British Admiralty and seller of Admiralty Charts. This suggests that the map was hastily published, based on French sources, and that Potter did not take the time to re-engrave it in English - likely in his haste to get it to market and capitalize on general interest in the 1861 Battle of Shanghai. Rare. Not in OCLC or on Virtual Shanghai.