1892 - 1900 Map of Central and South Africa
Map Maker: John George Bartholomew
Date: 1892 -1900 circa (published) London
Dimensions: 40.5 x 30 inches (102.87x 76.2 cm)
Published by Edward Stanford circa 1892-1900 in London. John George Bartholomew is the map maker, he would later be known for naming Antarctica in 1887.
This is a large detailed and wonderfully colored pocket map of central and southern Africa. The map provides an interesting window into the brief history of two independent African republics that survived the Berlin Conference of 1885. Geographic features along with towns and ports are clearly marked, and railways, steamer routes, and telegraph lines are clearly delineated throughout the map. The extent of the spread of these infrastructure improvements display the “scramble for Africa” that feverishly gripped the colonial powers at the time. One of the many unique features of this map is the notation of chartered companies and their areas of operation, clearly marked in red.
The bottom left portion of the map features a to-scale representation of England, showing just how massive the African continent truly is. Beneath that is Port Elizabeth, with depth soundings included. On the bottom right of the map there is Delagoa Bay, Port Natal, and the mouths of the Zambezi River; all lovingly depicted, with close attention to detail.
Condition: This map is in a B+ condition with some slight soiling and foxing on the margins and on the ocean. The map linen still holds firm, with no tears or separations. It remains brilliantly colored, and is a necessarily addition to any 19th century Africa collection.
Inventory #19640
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