Travel books from the late 19th century are a good source of information about Shanghai at the time. However, the engraving that come with them are often wrong or invented. I recently receive the picture below, a extract from French review “Le tour du Monde” (around the World) from 1860. Unlike some others in the same review, this one seems pretty true to the original scene.
The above engraving was made from a painting from Pierre-Eug`ene Grandsire (1825-1905), a well known French painter. As the painter did not travel, it was made from a description or an earlier drawing from French marin officer M de Trévise. The picture must have been a great success, as it was later used for other publications in the UK.
Published in 1860, the picture is a reflection of 1858 or 1859. Control of the Chinese customs was handed to the British in 1854, and in 1857 the Shanghai authorities spent 6800 taels to built the customs office that was located on the Bund. From some sources, it seems that the building was originally a temple on the river side. The engraving is quite similar to the few pictures of the building that there taken later. The shape of the building was kept, though the actual proportions and size of the building is somewhat flawed.
In 1893, it was replaced by a more western building, as seen below. That building was demolished in 1925 and replaced by the current customs house in 1927.
My great grandfather worked in the first and second Customs building from 1885 to 1900. He went through the Boxer Rebellion there before going home for a year long leave starting from September 1900. He was then the Assistance Statistical Secretary.
My great uncle, John Joshua JARMAIN, left Yokohama for Shanghai and was employed by the Shanghai Customs office. He was, I think, a “watcher” at one point, possibly around 1903. He was noted for having at one time intercepted a cargo of contraband but when that was I do not know. Is there any way of confirming what years he worked for the Shanghai Customs?
With thanks in advance for your help.