DESCRIPTION: Colorful pictorial map of South Africa, designed and drawn in Pretoria by Bernard Sargent. The map presents the country's cities, wildlife, scenery, and visitor attractions through numerous illustrated vignettes, with roads and railways connecting Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. The provinces of Cape of Good Hope, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Natal are identified, together with Basutoland and neighboring territories.
An elaborate scroll cartouche introduces South Africa as a land "beloved of the Sun." Illustrations depict game animals, waterfalls, historic buildings, coastal resorts, and outdoor recreation, with Kruger National Park prominently featured in the northeast. Fish, sharks, a seahorse, and a sailing vessel fill the surrounding oceans. A large compass rose and a historical vignette commemorating Bartholomew Dias's voyage around the Cape complete the maritime decoration.
The broad ornamental border combines indigenous plants and animals, allegorical figures, provincial emblems, and descriptions of regional attractions. The national arms appear above the map beneath draped curtains. Its combination of tourist promotion, natural history, and historical imagery presents an idealized view of South Africa; the border's language and some figure illustrations also reflect the racial stereotypes of its period.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1955
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: South Africa
BODY OF WATER: N/A
CONDITION: Fair.
Clean. One tear repaired archivally from the verso at the horizontal fold. Small holes at a few fold intersections.
COLORING: Process color.
ENGRAVER:
SIZE:
" x
"
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 54
PRICE: $400
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