Peking & Environs—GSGS—Official Use Only—Capt. Veasey—British Legation 1909 map

£2,920

SKU: P-7-028337

'Peking and Environs. From the German Staff Map of 1907, with additions—For Official Use Only—G.S.G.S. No. 2417—Map No. 5'


A very rare and detailed British Military/Intelligence survey plan of Beijing (then Peking) and its environs in the post-Boxer, Legation Quarter era, with roads, compounds, temples, villages & waterways. Issued by the War Office and marked "For Offical Use Only". Verso inscription: “Peking 1931/32. Used by H.G.V. when cmdg. Legation Guard,” thus apparently used by Captain Harley Gerald Veasey, The Queen’s Royal Regiment, later Brigadier H.G. Veasey, DSO. The regimental history records that the 1st Battalion went to North China in 1930 and that D Company and the Machine Gun Platoon were sent to Peking to guard the British Legation, with barracks and officers’ mess inside the Legation Compound. It also notes Mrs Veasey, wife of Captain H.G. Veasey, living with the battalion in China, and illustrates the posting with a contemporary photograph captioned “British Legation Guard, Peking Summer 1931.” Veasey was later decorated in Palestine and commanded the 28th East African Infantry Brigade during the Second World War.

Select:

Size 92 x 72 cm | 36.0 x 28.5 inches

Date Published: 1909

War Office December 1908. Prepared and printed at the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton, 1909

Type: An extremely detailed antique colour British Military/Intelligence city plan, laid down onto linen

Author: War Office

From the German Staff Map. Published by the War Office/GSGS. Printed at the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton

Publication: War Office

Geographical Section General Staff (War Office)

Condition: Good |

Good; suitable for framing. Generally very good. Light soiling. Unobstrusive manuscript additions in red pencil, including to the International Rifle Range, which has been circled, underscoring the military purpose of the map. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. Please contact us if you would like to arrange to view this map. This is a folding map. The reverse is plain except for the manuscript inscription "Peking 1931/32. Used by H.G.V. when [commanding] Legation Guard.”

Delivery & Returns

Packing

Items smaller than A4 size are usually packed in a stiffened, board-backed envelope. Larger items are rolled and packed in postal tubes. Large items which are too stiff to be rolled in wide-diameter tubes are mailed in all-board envelopes. In the unlikely event of damage in transit, please send the affected item or items back to us and we will provide a replacement or refund.

Delivery

Economy, tracked and express shipping options are available to all destinations worldwide. Over half our orders are sent to customers outside the United Kingdom and we have supplied over 30,000 buyers in over 70 different countries. We ship orders virtually every business day to customers in North America and Europe. The cost of delivery depends on the size of the largest item in your order, where you are located, and the delivery method that you choose at checkout. For orders received before 2pm, we can arrange delivery next day in the UK, within 2 business days to continental Europe and North America, and within 4 days to most other countries worldwide (excludes PO Box or APO/FPO (Military) addresses).

Returns

We accept returns for any reason if sent back to us within 14 days of receipt of your order. If any of your items are not as described, we will provide a full refund including reasonable return postage costs upon safe return to us. If you have changed your mind, you are responsible for the cost of returning the item to us. We describe the size, age and condition of all our products as fully and accurately as possible. Most of the items which we sell are in very good condition. However, the condition of antique and vintage prints and maps can vary. All of our product listings including a statement which classifies the condition as being either “Good”, “Fair”, or (rarely) “Poor” and which describes any material flaws, blemishes, imperfections or other significant features such as folds. Please read the description carefully before purchase.

Can we help? For more details or any questions.

Recently Viewed

Condition Guide

We assess the condition of each item using three categories: Good, Fair, and Poor. We strive to ensure that any significant flaws are clearly shown in the images provided and detailed in the accompanying condition statement.

Good

The item presents well, with no significant flaws, and is in frameable condition. Minor imperfections—such as light spotting or offsetting, small blemishes, tight margins, neatly repaired tears, or discreet/professionally executed restoration—do not materially detract from its overall appearance.

Fair

The item shows noticeable flaws but remains in frameable condition. Some buyers may feel these imperfections affect its visual appeal. Typical issues may include more prominent spotting, blemishes, bleed-through from the reverse, obvious offsetting, visible or extensive restoration, wear along fold lines or junctures, small wormholes, trimmed or closely cropped edges, or less carefully executed repairs.

Poor

The item has major flaws that significantly impact its presentation and/or suitability for framing. These may include heavy spotting, staining, bleed-through, offsetting, unrepaired damage, or poorly executed repairs such as tears, holes, or areas of paper loss (including within the printed image). The item may also be fragile and prone to further deterioration.