1858 Milne / Becker Map of Shanghai, China

This 1858 map of Shanghai by W. S. Milne and Erhard illustrates the early days of the Treaty Port Era (1842 - 1943). Cartographically, it is one of the earliest Western representations of Shanghai, based on the L. M. Becker map of 1853, itself drawn and published in the 1857 first English edition of Milne's Life In China. This example is the 1858 French edition. Although printed in 1858, the cartography dates to the late 1840s or early 1850s, when Milne visited Shanghai, thus revealing the early stages of Concession development.

A Closer Look

Oriented towards the west, the map takes in Shanghai's walled 'Chinese city,' the nearby foreign settlements, and the city's hinterland. The map marks out distinct English, French, and American Territories, thus predating the merger of the British and American Concessions - the French Concession remained separate. This map also makes clear that the territory of the foreign concessions, initially not intended to be distinct from Chinese territory, evolved from their bases along the riverfront (Bund); in time, the foreign concessions would extend well beyond the scope of this map and develop administrative bodies, police forces, and courts.

Given Milne's background as a missionary, special attention is paid to churches and mission houses. Chinese temples within the walled city are also noted. Paths at top lead to destinations further to the west, including the Longhua Pagoda and the Catholic compound at Xujiahui (Si-ka-wei). At right is Hongkou (Hung-kow), where Americans predominated and where, in later decades, thousands of Japanese would reside. The village at the bottom, across the Huangpu (Hwangpoo) from the main part of the city, is Lujiazui, the most heavily developed portion of Pudong, now dominated by skyscrapers.

Small Swords Uprising

A note about the 'Campement des 10,000 Iemperialistes en 1853 - 1854' does not refer to foreign imperialists but to Qing imperial forces, sent to Shanghai to suppress the Small Swords Uprising, which had overtaken the walled city in September 1853 and aligned itself with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, another, much larger rebel force in southern China. The nascent foreign community was divided on the uprising; the French sided strongly with the Qing, even committing troops to aid the Qing forces besieging the walled city, while the British and Americans were more circumspect. Eventually, though, they came to tepidly support the Qing, who recaptured the walled city in February 1855.

However, the wider question of the Taiping, based in nearby Nanjing, had not disappeared. In 1860, Taiping forces attacked and briefly occupied the walled city of Shanghai. Over the next two years, the two opposing sides fought throughout the surrounding region, with Qing forces, backed by foreign powers and the 'Ever Victorious Army,' a foreign-led group of mercenaries and local recruits, eventually staving off the threat to Shanghai. Still, it was not until 1864 that the Qing recaptured Nanjing, the penultimate battle of the war with the Taiping.

Publication History and Census

The map can trace its origins to L.M. Becker's map of 1853-1857. Little is known of Becker, but he must have been an associate of Milne in China, possibly another missionary. The map was originally published in 1857 in English. The present example is the 1858 first French edition (Hachette), noteworthy for the unusual spelling of 'Changhai' in the title - in all other examples we've seen, the spelling follows the more conventional 'Shanghai.' It is a fresh engraving by Charles Erhard, printed in Paris by Chez Hédin Gr. Antoine Dubois. The map appears on the market in its various editions from time to time and is well represented in institutions, but this is the only known example of this 'Changhai' state.