W. & A. K. Johnston’s Russo-Japanese War Map

A scarce, early edition (3rd) of this c.20th cased colour lithographed map of the Russo Japanese War in the publishers original red cloth covers. The map was continually updated during 1904

The map has a number of insets of the different areas of conflict as well as the flags of the countries involved. Within the front cover are four pages detailing the reasons for the conflict. On the last page of adverts and the verso of one section of the map is a manuscript list of, “Chinese Terms“.

With the port of Vladivostok unusable in winter, Russia sought a warm water port further south for their navy and maritime trade operations. Attempts to negotiate with the Japanese to use Port Arthur were unsuccessful, mainly because the Japanese wanted to maintain control over the Korean peninsula, and the Japanese declared war on the 8 February 1904. The Japanese had a decisive victory, surprising the Russian Tsar and international observers who had believed Russia’ forces were superior.