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Central Africa Maps and Illustrations, 1854

Richardson, Barth, Overweg and Vogel, by Authority of Her Majesty's Foreign Office, compiled by Augustus Petermann FRGS 1850,1851,1852 and 1853, An account of progress of the expedition to Central Africa, Consisting of Maps and Illustrations with Descriptive Notes, London 1854. This is an important book describing the remote region south through the Sahara to Sudan compiled by the very well known and well-regarded cartographer and publisher Augustus Petermann.

2025 RGSSA 8719

This volume has maps and descriptions of the many short trips made during the journey to Central Africa under the auspices of the British Foreign Office. These are shown combined on a large fold out map entitled Map of part of Central Africa showing the Routes of the Expedition. 

As well, there are detailed descriptions of each of these journeys under headings such as (selected at random):

  • VII Dr Overweg's Exploration of Lake Tsad 28 June to 8 August 1851. 
  • VIII Journey of Dr Barth and Dr Overweg to Karem, September to November 1851. 
  • IX Journey of Dr Barth and Dr Overweg to Musgo, 25 November 1851 to 1 February 1852. 

A separate publication Progress of the African Mission consisting of Messrs. Richardson, Barth and Overweg to Central Africa was read to the Royal Geographical Society of London on 13th January, 24th March and 10th November 1851.

rgsp 916.7 P 479d Cabinet 2, shelf 3

James Richardson (1809-1851) was a British explorer who trained for the church - his mission was to spread Christianity and to work towards the abolition of the slave trade. He became known for his expeditions to the Sahel* region of the Sahara and in 1845 he made an expedition from Tunis and Tripoli to Ghat, Libya in the Sahara. From this he published Travels in the great desert of Sahara 1849. In 1850 he went again to Ghat with Heinrich Barth and Adolf Overweg however he did not return dying on 4th March 1851 most probably from malaria. *The transition area between the more humid Sudanian savannas to the south and the drier Sahara to the north. (Wikipedia)

Augustus Petermann (1822-1878) was a well known German cartographer who moved to London in 1847. In 1850 he set up his own business called The Geographical Establishment, Engraving, Lithography and Printing Office at Charing Cross. He published maps and atlases and did work for the Royal Geographical Society which awarded him the Founder's Medal in 1868 and Queen Victoria appointed him Physical Geographer Royal. He published a map in 1854 showing the northern part of Africa with the 1850 and 1853 expedition routes of Richardson, Barth, Overweg and Vogel.

© The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia

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