1958 de Jesus City Plan or Map of Manila, Philippines

A scarce folding city plan or map of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, prepared by Domingo de Jesus and published by J.M. Azucena Publishing in 1958.

A Closer Look

Presented in an interesting cyanotype style, with white against a blue background, districts are labeled throughout, including the historic walled city of Intramuros, as are streets, parks, railroad stations, and universities. United Nations Park, situated near south Manila Bay, is prominently illustrated, as is the U.S. Embassy, the University of the Philippines, and the Philippine General Hospital. Thirty-seven locations across the city are numerically identified and correspond with an index in the upper right corner. A photograph of the Monument of the National Hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, is printed in the lower right corner. The verso includes photographs of several locations identified on the recto, including the Legislative Building, City Hall, and the Army and Navy Club. The prominence of American military, diplomatic, and cultural institutions suggests the map may have been intended for American visitors and residents of the city.

Rebuilding the 'Pearl of the Orient'

Before World War II, Manila was a bustling, cosmopolitan city with impressive amenities, earning it the nickname 'the Pearl of the Orient.' However, World War II took a serious toll on the city. Although it was not heavily damaged by the Japanese invasion of late 1941 and early 1942, the Japanese fought tooth and nail to defend the city in early 1945. Manila was almost completely destroyed (only Warsaw saw worse destruction during the war), and at least 100,000 civilians were killed in the crossfire and a series of war crimes committed by Japanese troops. After a period of basic reconstruction, the city emerged from the horrific destruction of the war into a 'golden age' lasting from the 1950s to the 1980s. Three successive mayors - Arsenio Lacson, Antonio Villegas, and Ramon Bagatsing - are credited with ushering Manila through a period of rapid urbanization and economic growth, focusing on infrastructure and modernization, giving the city its modern form.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Domingo D. de Jesus and published by J.M. Azucena Publishing. The present example is the first edition of the map, published in 1958. Additional editions were published in 1960, 1964, and 1967, all of which are quite rare. The OCLC only notes one example of this first edition, held by Pennsylvania State University, with later editions held by the Library of Congress, the National Library of Scotland, and the National Library of Australia.