1851 Black Map of Africa

This is a fine example of the Adam and Charles Black's 1851 map of Africa. It covers the entire continent from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic, including the island of Madagascar. An inset map in the lower left quadrant details Madeira while another inset in the lower right quadrant details the Yemeni Port of Aden.

A large portion of central Africa remains unexplored though the Sahara or Great Desert is beautifully rendered. The present map exhibits various speculations regarding the unexplored interior of Africa. The course of the White Nile shown here is speculative at best, the apocryphal Mountains of the Moon stretch across the continent, and what appears to be either Lake Malawi (Nyasa) or Lake Tanganyika is marked 'N'yassi, or the Sea.' The cartographer correctly identifies Lake Chad, while a region in modern day Algeria is marked 'Bileduljerid or the Country of Dates.' Several indigenous African tribal kingdoms are identified along te coasts.

At the time this map was made, the slave trade, thriving since the 5th century was rapidly diminishing due to decreased demand for slaves in the New World, the British outlawing of slavery in 1808, and subsequent diplomatic efforts including treaties with over 50 African rulers outlawing the practice. Many African economies adapted by shifting to the export of mineral and agricultural resources, which led to the european scramble for territory, occupying most of the continent by the end of the 19th century. europe's colonial interests in Africa haphazardly carved up the continent into unnatural territories, often forcing historic enemies into close proximity and leading to social problems that remain to this day.

Various towns, cities, deserts, oases, mountain ranges, rivers and several other topographical details are noted with relief shown in hachures. This map was engraved by Sidney Hall and issued as plate no. XLII in the 1851 edition of Black's General Atlas of the World.