1932 or Showa 7 World War II Japanese Map of Shanghai (w/photo of Bund)

An iconic map of Shanghai, China, featuring a dramatic panoramic photograph of the Bund.

This is an uncommon and attractive 1932 map of Shanghai China. It was made before the start of the second Sino-Japanese war and World War II. Printed in the 7th year of Hirohito's reign, it depicts downtown Shanghai including the Chinese Quarter, the French Concession, the English Quarter (along the Bund) etc. Important buildings along the Bund are carefully noted, including the first HSBC Bank, the British Club, the Peace Hotel and the Customs House. There is also am impressive panoramic photo of the Bund in the lower left quadrant. A small inset detail map of Nanjing or Nanking is set in the lower right quadrant of the map. Another larger inset illustrates the greater Shanghai region.

The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai. It occupies on that section of Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement and runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the eastern part of Huangpu District. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai is a protected historic district.

The Shanghai Bund has dozens of historical buildings that once housed banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France, United States, Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan, Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain, a newspaper, the Shanghai Club and the Masonic Club. The Bund lies north of the old walled city of Shanghai. This area was initially a British trading settlement but building boom at the turn of the century transformed the Bund into a major East Asian financial hub. The former French Bund, just east of the walled city, was more a working freight port.

Most of the text is written in both Chinese and English. This map was issued by the Osaka Asahi Shimbun as a supplement to the May 5, 1932 issue.

Cartographer

The Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞; January 25, 1879 – Present), translated Morning Sun Newspaper, is one of Japan's oldest and most venerable daily newspapers. The Asahi Shimbun began publication in Osaka on January 25, 1879 as a small-print, four-page illustrated paper. The paper was founded by Kimura Noboru (company president), Murayama Ryōhei (owner), and Tsuda Tei (managing editor). In 1888 the newspaper expanded with a branch in Tokyo and began issuing the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun. The the Osaka and Tokyo papers formally merged under a single imprint in 1940. Almost from its inception the newspaper was known for its liberal views. The Asahi Shimbun continues to publish from Osaka today.   Further Details...

Source

Osaka Asahi Shimbun, (Osaka) Supplement to Issue no. 18076, May 5, 1932.    

Condition

Very good. Minor wear and soiling along original fold lines. Professionally flattened and backed with archival tissue.

References

Harvard University, Hollis 014621967. OCLC 277164143.