27 Carl Christian Franz Radefeld (1788–1874) – Map of the Chinese Empire with Its Protectorates and the Japanese Archipelago (1846)

This detailed map of East Asia, created by Carl Christian Franz Radefeld for Meyer's Grosser Hand-Atlas, presents the geopolitical landscape of the region following the First Opium War (1839–1842). The map extends from Siberia in the north to Indochina in the south, and from India in the west to Japan in the east, focusing on the territories of China, Korea, and Japan. The provinces of the Qing Empire are color-coded to reflect administrative boundaries and political divisions of the mid-19th century.

In the lower left, two insets are featured: one showing the Pearl River Delta including Canton (Guangzhou), Macao, and Hong Kong, and another with a detailed plan of Peking (Beijing), including the Forbidden City. The newly opened treaty ports established under the Treaty of Nanking (1842) are marked in red, emphasizing their importance in the era of expanding Western trade in Asia.

Carl Christian Franz Radefeld was a notable German cartographer of the 19th century, known for his collaborations with Joseph Meyer, founder of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen. Meyer (1796–1856) was a pioneering German publisher, best known for the Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, and for producing some of the most influential atlases and encyclopedias of the period.

Artist or Maker:

Carl Christian Franz Radefeld

Dimensions:

42 cm x 37 cm

Medium:

Hand-Coloured Engraving

Date:

1846

Condition Report:

This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.