Beijing, 1936, A Map & History of Peiping, Peking, China, Vintage Pictorial Map

A whimsical map of Beijing, drawn in the 1930s, combining the pictography and layout of a traditional Chinese city plan with the humor and stylization of early-twentieth-century Western pictorial maps. Beautifully colored and skillfully drawn, the map is teeming with illustrations of historical events, scenes and noteworthy locales of the great and ancient city.

Full map title reads: A Map and History of Peiping; formerly known as Peking; capital of provinces, princedoms, and kingdoms since 1121 B.C.; in 1264 A.D. the capital of the Mongol Empire of Kublai Khan; made the capital of the Ming Empire and built as it is today by Yung Lo in 1421; continued as the capital of the Chinese Empire through the Ming and Ching Dynasties; and now a city which will live long in the memory of man as one of the greatest the world has ever known ~ Completed on this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Thirty–six.

The author, Col. Frank Dorn (1901–1981), later Brigadier General, United States Army, was an artist, writer, and Aide to General Stilwell, who during World War II commanded the U.S. and Chinese Nationalist Resistance to Japanese incursions into China and Burma. Dorn studied Chinese language, history and culture in Beijing in 1934–1939. During 1944–1945, he was Commanding General of China Training and Combat Command. In 1945, Brigadier General Frank Dorn was Deputy Chief of Staff at HQ, U.S. Army Ground Forces, China Burma India (CBI) Theater.

• Pictorial map of the History of Beijing (Peiping, Peking), China, 1936, Frank Dorn
• Fine Art Premium Giclée (Gouttelette) Print (100% cotton 340 gsm fine art paper)
• Made in USA