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Historic maps of Africa collection

National Museum of African Art

"A New Description of Africa -- 1631"
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
Finding aid
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

Object Details

sova.eepa.1991-001
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo79c62b0c2-f66b-487f-9999-4ae80f8f7f0f
Place
Africa -- Discovery and exploration
Angola
Ghana
Egypt
Cameroon
Sierra Leone
Africa -- Maps
Senegal
Gambia
Guinea
Africa -- Colonization
Africa
Africa -- Civilization
Africa, Southern
Kalabar (Nigeria)
Volta River (Ghana)
Africa, North
Africa, East -- views
Africa, West -- views
See more items in
Historic maps of Africa collection
Summary
The Historic Maps of Africa collection includes 78 maps and dates from circa 1631 to 1973. Geographic content of individual maps varies from topographical information, boundaries of colonial territories, and ethnic groups, among other topics. While several depict the continent of Africa in its entirety, many focus on specific countries and geographic regions. There are a particularly large number of maps depicting the West African Coast.
Extent
78 Maps
Date
circa 1631-1973
Custodial History
The maps were transferred from both the Robbins Center and the Warren M. Robbins Library, National Museum of African Art.
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.1991-001
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Maps
Citation
Historic maps of Africa collection, EEPA 1991-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
Processing Information
The collection was rehoused and photographed in 2010. Map dimensions are measured height x width. Processed by Gabriella Bellegarde and Eden Orelove, December 2016
Rights
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Scope and Contents
The Historic Maps of Africa collection consists of 78 maps, dating from circa 1631 to 1973, with the bulk created in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The maps vary in size, ranging from the smallest at 7 x 7 (7/8) inches to the largest at 40 x 30 (5/8) inches. Geographic content of individual maps varies from topographical information, boundaries of colonial territories, and ethnic groups, among other topics. While several depict the continent of Africa in its entirety, many focus on specific countries and geographic regions. There are a particularly large number of maps depicting the West African Coast. The majority of the maps in the collection feature color illustrations. Titles and descriptions of the maps are in several languages (Dutch, English, French, German, and others), representing the different colonial powers in control at the time. Particular maps of interest include an 1830 colored map in English titled "Africa from the Best Authorities," which illustrates the entire African continent, various ethnic groups, and the inroads made by European colonial powers; and a 1656 topographic map in French depicting the west-central coast of Africa, specifically the mountains and rivers of the region. Digital copies of the maps are available.
Restrictions
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
EEPA.1991-001
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo79c62b0c2-f66b-487f-9999-4ae80f8f7f0f
EEPA.1991-001
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1503512428101-1503512428106-0

  • Images 75 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Archival materials 78 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Maps 75 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1620s 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1630s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1650s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1660s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1690s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1700s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1710s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1730s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1740s 31 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1750s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1760s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1770s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1790s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1800s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1810s 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1820s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1830s 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1840s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1850s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1870s 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1880s 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1890s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Historic maps of Africa collection 78 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 78 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Yes 75 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • No 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • ead_component 78 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • "Cours de la Riviere de Sanaga ou Senegal depuis son embouchre jusqu'a l'Isle de Bilbas levé par un Ingenieur François en 1817"; "Suite du cours de la Riviere de Senegal depuis l'Isles de Bilbas jusqu'au Sault du Rocher de Govina"

  • "Carte de la Coste Orientale d'Afrique"

  • "Carte de la Guinée"

  • "Africa"

  • "Suite de la Coste de Guinée depuis le Cap de Palme jusqu'au Cap des Trois Pointes"

  • "Guinée entre Serre-Lione et le passage de la Ligne"

  • "Geographical and Historical Map of Africa"

  • "Africa According to the Best Authorities"

  • "Partie de la Coste de Guinée depuis le Cap de Monte jusqu'au Cap des Basses"

  • "Partie de las Coste de Guinée depuis la Riviere de Sierra Leona jusqu'au Cap de Palmas"

  • "Carte de la Coste occidentale d'Afrique"

  • "Carte de la Guinée"

  • "Barbarie, Egypte, Nigritie, Guinée, Nubie, Abissinie"

  • "Royaume du Congo"

  • "Afrique"

  • "Africa"

  • "A new map of Africa from Recent Authorities"

  • "Africa"

  • "Carte de la coste D'Arabie Mer Rouge, et Golfe de Perse"

  • "Africa"

  • "Carte de la Coste d'Angola"

  • "Nigritarium Regio"

  • "Carte du cours des Rivieres de Faleme et Sanaga"

  • "L'Ethiopie Occidentale"


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