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Detailed map of Beijing, published by Henri Vetch.
The map is divided into sections (Tartar, Imperial City, Forbidden City, Chinese City), with important public buildings highlighted in red. The section below the Imperial City illustrates the European Legations
The present example has been flattened and laid on archival linen and was likely separately issued. Twenty two points of interest are separately identified, with locations in the two margins.
Provenance:
The map bears the seller's stamp of the French Book Store in Beijing, operated by Henri Vetch.
Henri Vetch's was born George Henry Archibald Campbell Vetch, but used the name Henri when he joined the French Army. Vetch is best remembered as the long-time proprietor of his renowned bookshop, Librairie Française (The French Book Store, which began operating from the Grand Hotel de Pekin in 1926), as well as a publisher in Peking, beginning in the 1920s, later as the Publisher for the Hong Kong University Press beginning in the 1950s and, after retirement, as a partner in the short-lived publishing company in Hong Kong, Vetch and Lee Limited.
Vetch was also an alleged co-conspirator in the attempt to assassinate Chairman Mao on October 1, 1950.
