1960 Li Chinese Map of the West Indies / Caribbean

Cantonese in the Caribbean.

This is an unrecorded c. 1960 Chinese-language map of the West Indies / Caribbean and Central America, prepared by cartographer Menphy Li for the Hong Kong-based Hai Kwang Press. The map reflects Hong Kong's distinct internationalism and growing interest in far-flung places as potential destinations for travel and investment.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces the West Indies and Caribbean Sea, along with Central America, the southernmost portion of Florida, and the northernmost portion of South America. It is crisscrossed by a complex array of blue and red lines indicating maritime and air routes between major cities and ports. The partially bilingual legend at bottom-right explains the meaning of the various solid and dashed lines as indicating the frequency of ships or planes in number of trips per week. Cities are also marked with travel in mind, with 'important ports' being distinguished from 'secondary ports,' and cities with airports from cities without airports. Major roads, including the Pan-American Highway, railways (completed and under construction), and oil pipelines, are also traced, with oil derricks illustrated in Colombia and Venezuela. Rivers, canals, mountains, and other topographic features are also labeled throughout.

Though the map may have been intended purely to satisfy the curiosity of readers for geographical knowledge, it also reflects Hong Kong's increasing international connections during this period, including growing interest in investment and trade opportunities far afield. Indeed, though far away, the Caribbean was hardly unknown to Cantonese, as tens of thousands of Cantonese migrants came to Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, and other Caribbean destinations as indentured workers in the late 19th century.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Menphy Li (黎敏斐) and printed by the Popular Erasers Printing Company (大眾橡皮印刷公司) for the Hong Kong-based Hai Kwang Press (海光出版社), of which Li was almost certainly the owner. It is noted as being printed for the bimonthly magazine Hai Kwang (海光), most likely as a separately-issued supplement for subscribers. The map is undated, but given the large number of connections between Cuba and the U.S.A., it probably dates to the late 1950s to early 1960s. We have been unable to locate any other examples of this map in institutional collections or on the market.

Cartographer

Menphy Li (黎敏斐; fl. c. 1951 - 1964) was a Hong Kong-based cartographer and publisher associated with the Hai Kwang Press (海光出版社), of which he was the supervisor, manager, and general editor (督印人, 總經人, 總編輯), and likely the owner. Hai Kwang was best knoen for printing a monthly (at times bimonthly) magazine oriented around travel and geography titled Hai Kwang Geographical Magazine (海光地理雜誌), with the English title Geographical Magazine, which included smaller printed maps done by Li. The Press also published colorful separately-issued maps in various formats, including wall maps. Most of these maps dealt with Hong Kong itself or nearby destinations in Southeast Asia, but occasionally dealt with other parts of the world.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Light wear along original fold lines. Closed tear extending 1 inch within title (mostly between characters) professionally repaired on verso.