Charts, maps and plans in this section date from the first of the two 'opium wars' between 1839 and go through to about 1880. Of significant importance is that these maps and plans were either commissioned, surveyed and drawn with the simple purpose of information gathering which would lead to invasion. Many of the names of towns and cities do not necessarily translate to those by which we know them today but they are nevertheless an important historical record of China at the time.