Archipel Asiatique [Asian Archipel]

Description

original-colour lithograph.

RARE map from Atlas de Géographie Moderne, as “Carte 43”, printed and engraved by Erhard Frères. This map’s historical significance lies in its vivid depiction of pre-20th century geopolitical boundaries and European colonial dominance across Southeast Asia. Utilising a precise colour-coded key, it outlines the vast territories controlled by competing empires: French Indochina, the Dutch East Indies, British possessions in Malaya and northern Borneo, Spanish rule over the Philippines prior to the Spanish-American War of 1898, and Portuguese Timor. The administrative hierarchy is meticulously categorised, distinguishing imperial capitals, regional centres, and local provincial seats alongside settlement sizes. Engraved and printed via colour lithography by Erhard Frères, it stands as a prime example of late Victorian-era French cartography, reflecting the strategic and economic interests of European powers at the height of modern imperialism.