{"product_id":"native-plan-of-the-attack-on-the-taku-forts-1860-2nd-opium-war-dennys-1867-map-p-8-007065","title":"Native plan of the attack on the Taku Forts—1860—2nd Opium War—Dennys 1867 map","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e'Native plan of the attack on the Taku Forts by the Allied Squadron. 25th June, 1860.'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Chinese pictorial battle plan of the Taku Forts at the Peiho’s mouth, guarding the maritime route to Tientsin and Peking. Chinese inscriptions and pictograms depict fortified banks, batteries, camps, junks, river barriers and booms, with Allied side-wheel steamships below. The heading apparently identifies Tianjin’s land-and-water defences under Prince Sengge Rinchen. The engraved title misdates the failed Allied assault: it occurred on 25 June 1859, not 1860. Anglo-French forces had captured the forts in 1858 and compelled the Treaties of Tientsin. Returning for ratification the following June, the squadron encountered strengthened defences, blocked channels and mud flats, suffering a conspicuous defeat. The forts finally fell on 21 August 1860, opening the route to the capital and the Convention of Peking. The shallow bar, twisting river and winter ice continued to govern shipping bound for Tientsin. Dennys’s 1867 engraving identifies itself as a “Native plan”, preserving an unnamed Chinese source and its distinctive perspective on the battle. Exceptionally scarce: our research located no other separate dealer or auction record for this map.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antiquemapsandprints.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54020020109659,"sku":"P-8-007065","price":400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0923\/9583\/1643\/files\/P-8-007065a.jpg?v=1788980450","url":"https:\/\/www.antiquemapsandprints.com\/products\/native-plan-of-the-attack-on-the-taku-forts-1860-2nd-opium-war-dennys-1867-map-p-8-007065","provider":"Antiquemapsandprints.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}