Antique Map of South Africa with the Peninsula of the Cape Inset, circa 1860

This is an original antique engraved map, colored by hand, from Fullarton's Companion Atlas to the Gazetteer of the World. The title in the lower right reads "SOUTH AFRICA," with the line "From Official & other authentic Authorities." beneath it. The map covers southern Africa from Damaraland, Great Namaqualand and Lake Ngami in the north down to the Cape of Good Hope, and east across the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic to Natal and Delagoa Bay. Cape Colony, Natal and the inland states are set off in outline color.

A rectangular inset in the lower left is titled "THE PENINSULA OF THE CAPE On an enlarged Scale." and shows Table Bay, Cape Town, Table Mountain, Simons Bay and False Bay. On the main map the eastern frontier is lettered "B. KAFFRARIA", with Basuto Land and Natal to the north of it. A key below the title reads "The Names of the British German Legion Villages in British Kaffraria are shown thus" with "Berlin" underlined as the example, followed by "The Initials M.S. indicate Missionary Stations." Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfort are underlined on the map accordingly. Beyond the Transvaal a note reads "Unhealthy Country abounding in Elephants", and the bar scale is captioned "Scale of English Miles 69-1°".

The title names no compiler. The line below the lower right corner of the border reads "Drawn & Engraved at Stanford's Geographical Establishment, 6 Charing Cross London." The imprint below the center of the border reads "A. FULLARTON & Co. EDINBURGH, LONDON & DUBLIN."

The Companion Atlas to the Gazetteer of the World was published by A. Fullarton and Co. of London, Edinburgh and Dublin and issued to subscribers in parts. The original printed wrapper of Part 7 survives with these maps; it bills forty-three maps, names G. H. Swanston as engraver, and is marked "Colored Copy". This sheet itself credits Stanford's establishment, not Swanston. The British German Legion named in the key had been raised for the Crimean War, and many of its men were settled in British Kaffraria after the war ended.

This is an original antique map, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.