China’s Plague

Visible signs of ‘infection’ across China during World War II.

This visually striking poster map, issued about six months after Pearl Harbor, shows China as a nation sick with an invasive disease. Scores of red pox-like dots reflect concentrations of Japanese troops, present in much of the northern part of the country. Completely occupied regions are shaded entirely in red, while arrows reflect generalized directions of attack. Important infrastructure like railways and supply routes (including the threatened Burma Road) are also noted.

The map was designed by James Cutter and originally published in the July 13, 1942 issue of TIME Magazine. Cutter was a member of the map department under the talented Robert Chapin, Jr., who introduced the distinctive design style. Chapin was a professionally trained architect who found jobs to be in low demand during the Great Depression. He took a job in the photo department at Newsweek in 1933, where he apparently picked up a knack for cartographic design. By 1937, he was hired by Time (a rival of Newsweek) as the head of the cartography department, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1970.

During his long tenure at Time, Chapin’s prolific output helped establish a pattern for 20th century newsroom cartography. The use of bold colors, uncluttered design, and legible typography was immensely popular, and the maps were reprinted for distribution in classrooms and public spaces throughout the country. Despite their widespread appeal, the maps are uncommon on the market and often overlooked in institutional collections. This version is listed in only three examples in WorldCat as of May 2024 – Franklin & Marshall College, the Library of Congress, and the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. OCLC# 227763275.