1906 Matasuzaki Hotel Business Map of Shanghai, China

An extremely rare c. 1906 map of Shanghai, China prepared to promote the Japanese run western style hotel Matasuzaki (松崎洋行) , founded in 1882. Centered on the intersection of Suzhou Creek (Soochow Creek) and the Huangpu River (Whangphoo), the map covers the central part of the International Settlement, the northern part of the Chinese walled city, and the entire c. 1900 - 1914 French Concession. The map is undated, but the development of the French Concession, the undeveloped state of streets east of Hong Kew Creek, and the businesses identified suggest a date between 1900 and 1914.

The map identifies much of interest, including the International Settlement, the French Concession, trams, important businesses, the Shanghai Club, the Country Club (Columbia Country Club), the French Concession, museums, cemeteries, and more.

In the upper right are photos of the Matasuzaki Hotel's dining room and game room, reflecting western luxuries and reinforcing the Chinese text in the lower right escribing the hotel's great location, gas lights, telephones, luggage services, and highly trained staff. The Matasuzaki's most famous guest was probably the writer, critic, and essayist Lu Xun, who wrote as Zhou Shuren (1881 - 1936).

A similar map based upon the same template, but clearly a different plate, was issued in 1908 by Shigeru Tanioka. That map is surrounded by photos of popular tourist sites and contains far more detail throughout, suggesting a later more developed state of both the present map and Shanghai itself. Of the present map, we are aware of no other examples in any collection, public or private.