Description
WWII Imperial Japanese Army Secret Military Maps — New Guinea Campaign, 1942–1944 — Set of 6
An original set of six Japanese military topographic maps produced during World War II, covering New Guinea and the surrounding Pacific War battlefields.
Dating from 1942–1944, these maps bear the Japanese marking 軍事秘密 (Gunji Himitsu), meaning “Military Secret.”
They also include references to aerial photographic surveying, offering a fascinating look at how the Imperial Japanese Army documented unfamiliar territory during wartime.
The New Guinea Campaign — A War Against Nature and the Enemy
During World War II, New Guinea became one of the most difficult battlefields of the Pacific War.
Japanese forces fought against Allied troops, particularly American and Australian forces, across a region of dense tropical jungle, rugged mountains, rivers, and swamps.
For soldiers operating in this environment, understanding the terrain was essential.
Maps could help military planners identify routes, settlements, rivers, coastlines, and possible areas of movement.
These original wartime maps offer a direct connection to that challenging chapter of military history.
Military Maps Made from Aerial Photography
One particularly interesting feature is the reference to 空中写真測量原図, meaning “Original Map Based on Aerial Photographic Surveying.”
Long before satellite imagery and GPS, aerial photographs provided military surveyors with valuable information about unfamiliar terrain.
The maps show detailed topographical features, including mountains, rivers, coastlines, roads, and settlements.
They illustrate how geographical information was collected and represented during the Pacific War.
Hollandia and the Turning Point in New Guinea
One of the areas represented is Hollandia, now Jayapura, Indonesia.
During World War II, Hollandia served as an important Japanese military base.
In April 1944, Allied forces under General Douglas MacArthur launched major amphibious landings at Hollandia and Aitape.
The operation captured important Japanese positions and further weakened Japan’s military situation in New Guinea.
These maps document regions directly connected with that historic campaign.
Details
* Original WWII Japanese military topographic maps
* Set of six sheets
* Dates: 1942–1944 (Showa 17–19)
* Scale: 1:100,000
* Marked “Military Secret” in Japanese
* References to aerial photographic surveying
* Includes areas such as Hollandia, Arso, Vanimo, and other locations in New Guinea
* Original Japanese place names, surveying information, and period military markings
Individual sheets have different printing, revision, and geographical details.
Condition
These are original paper maps dating from approximately 80 years ago.
They show age-related discoloration, stains, creases, wrinkles, and wear along folds and edges.
Please examine all photographs carefully to assess the condition of each sheet.
Own a Piece of History.
More than eighty years ago, Japanese military surveyors were documenting the mountains, rivers, and coastlines of New Guinea during one of the Pacific War’s most demanding campaigns.
Today, these maps survive with their original “Military Secret” markings.
An intriguing historical collection for enthusiasts of the Imperial Japanese Army, the New Guinea Campaign, World War II cartography, and Pacific War history.
Own a Piece of History.
An original set of six Japanese military topographic maps produced during World War II, covering New Guinea and the surrounding Pacific War battlefields.
Dating from 1942–1944, these maps bear the Japanese marking 軍事秘密 (Gunji Himitsu), meaning “Military Secret.”
They also include references to aerial photographic surveying, offering a fascinating look at how the Imperial Japanese Army documented unfamiliar territory during wartime.
The New Guinea Campaign — A War Against Nature and the Enemy
During World War II, New Guinea became one of the most difficult battlefields of the Pacific War.
Japanese forces fought against Allied troops, particularly American and Australian forces, across a region of dense tropical jungle, rugged mountains, rivers, and swamps.
For soldiers operating in this environment, understanding the terrain was essential.
Maps could help military planners identify routes, settlements, rivers, coastlines, and possible areas of movement.
These original wartime maps offer a direct connection to that challenging chapter of military history.
Military Maps Made from Aerial Photography
One particularly interesting feature is the reference to 空中写真測量原図, meaning “Original Map Based on Aerial Photographic Surveying.”
Long before satellite imagery and GPS, aerial photographs provided military surveyors with valuable information about unfamiliar terrain.
The maps show detailed topographical features, including mountains, rivers, coastlines, roads, and settlements.
They illustrate how geographical information was collected and represented during the Pacific War.
Hollandia and the Turning Point in New Guinea
One of the areas represented is Hollandia, now Jayapura, Indonesia.
During World War II, Hollandia served as an important Japanese military base.
In April 1944, Allied forces under General Douglas MacArthur launched major amphibious landings at Hollandia and Aitape.
The operation captured important Japanese positions and further weakened Japan’s military situation in New Guinea.
These maps document regions directly connected with that historic campaign.
Details
* Original WWII Japanese military topographic maps
* Set of six sheets
* Dates: 1942–1944 (Showa 17–19)
* Scale: 1:100,000
* Marked “Military Secret” in Japanese
* References to aerial photographic surveying
* Includes areas such as Hollandia, Arso, Vanimo, and other locations in New Guinea
* Original Japanese place names, surveying information, and period military markings
Individual sheets have different printing, revision, and geographical details.
Condition
These are original paper maps dating from approximately 80 years ago.
They show age-related discoloration, stains, creases, wrinkles, and wear along folds and edges.
Please examine all photographs carefully to assess the condition of each sheet.
Own a Piece of History.
More than eighty years ago, Japanese military surveyors were documenting the mountains, rivers, and coastlines of New Guinea during one of the Pacific War’s most demanding campaigns.
Today, these maps survive with their original “Military Secret” markings.
An intriguing historical collection for enthusiasts of the Imperial Japanese Army, the New Guinea Campaign, World War II cartography, and Pacific War history.
Own a Piece of History.