We wish to announce the recent publication of our cartobibliography on the mapping of Africa. This is a reference book that anyone (cartographer, geographer, map collector, map dealer, historian, librarian, academic, auction house specialist, or someone just interested in Africa) will find to be valuable.  An update to our book in the form of a link to a PDF file is at the end of this web page.

The following are some English-language reviews of our book:

Reference and Research Book News, Incorporating University Press Book News, February 2009, 24(1): 323:   "... an impressive resource of the maps of the continent of Africa from earliest times up to 1700, with 174 maps featured in individual descriptive entries.  The cartobibliography is a catalog raisonné, providing technical information on the map, its date, mapmaker, title, image, scale, type of printing process, dimensions, notable characteristics, description, and a lengthy discussion of publication information. An image of each map is included, often in color, in plates of excellent quality.".

Amazon.com web site:  "As an historian of Africa I have a practical interest in this book because it collects in one place, more exhaustively than in any other volume published to date, a huge range of maps documenting the growth of knowledge about the African continent. It is the definitive text and no library, collector of maps, or historian of Africa should be without a copy. Moreover, it is a beautifully produced book with excellent reproductions of the maps."

The Journal of Spatial Science, June 2008, 53(1):156-158:  "The Mapping of Africa is an educational volume and an essential book on the shelves of libraries for cartographers, geographers and historians and indeed, at secondary and tertiary educational institutions. Academic Libraries as well as national libraries, especially in Africa, are encouraged to obtain this book. The painstaking labour to analyse and record in detail the information gleaned and possibly deduced from the 174 graphics is worthy of the cost of the publication.  A word-limited review such as this cannot possibly do justice to such a scholarly piece of work which is an invaluable addition to range of publication on the history of cartography and geographical knowledge of the past five centuries."

IMCoS Journal, Autumn 2008, Number 114: 24-25:  "Prior to the publication of this monumental study, reference works on the early maps of Africa were predominately catalogues of collections and exhibitions with no pretensions to be comprehensive. ... . For the collector of maps of Africa, this remarkable volume is surely an essential reference."

The Boston Map Society Newsletter, 2007: "... the legacy of Robinson, Tooley, Harley, and Woodward rest in good hands.  This cartobibliography will continue to prompt the integration of past and present, even as we explore the next horizon."

Brussels International Map Collectors' Circle Newsletter, January 2008, Number 30: 14-15:  "This new cartobibliography represents a milestone in the history of the mapping of Africa.  It will prove an invaluable companion for the collector and an indispensable reference and research tool for the professional."  

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We indicated in our book that we would try to continuously update it with new entries, information, and corrections as they became available.  The link below provides an update to our book.  We are grateful for information that has been provided to us, and welcome further information on any maps. 

Click Here to View an Adobe PDF file of the Corrigenda and Addenda for our book (updated May 2013).

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Hemispheres Antique Maps & Prints
Dr. Richard L. & Penelope W. Betz
Phone: 603-446-7181 • Fax: 603-446-2301
E-mail: betz@betzmaps.com