Excellent. Laid on linen. Size 41 x 29.5 Inches. This is a strikingly vivid c. 1955 James Thiriar historical pictorial map of the Congo. It presents a colorful but serious look at the harsh realities of Congo's brutal history, including inter-tribal warfare, slavery, and colonialism. A Closer Look The artist James Thiriar participated in the Belgian 1932 Ruwenzori Expedition, during which he was inspired by Congo's rich artistic traditions and cultural tapestry. During the expedition, he created watercolors of the people he encountered, much of which later inspired his commercial work - as here. Coverage roughly equates to the modern borders of Congo. The map attempts to record various overland voyages of European explorers as well as tribal events and wars, naming some 51 events up to the 1952 establishment of the Belgian Kamina military base in southern Congo. Thiriar does not shy away from many of the brutal events that made the Congo's long history exceptionally brutal - slavery, exploitation, mass slaughter, and more. Key figures from Congolese history, both European and African, decorate the border. At the bottom is a representation of the 1598 Pigafetta / de Bry / Lopex map of the Congo, one of the earliest printed maps of that region. This map was published to capitalize on Belgian public interest in the Congo, and possibly for distribution to schools. Although celebrating the cultures of the Congo and Thiriar's fascination with it, this map cannot be divorced from the harsh reality of Belgian colonialism. The Belgian occupation of the Congo (1885 - 1960) was infamous for its brutal exploitation of resources and people. Publication History and Census This map was created by James Thiriar c. 1955 and published in Brussels by the Centre d'Information ed de Documentation du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi. It was printed by Lithographie LinsmÃ , Bruxelles. This is one of Thiriar's scarcer maps. We note an example in the David Rumsey Collection. References: Rumsey 8863.000. Seller Inventory # CongoTabulaHistorica-thiriar-1955

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Title: Congo Tabula Historica.

Publication Date: 1955

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Geographicus Rare Antique Maps was founded in New York, New York, by Kevin James Brown in 1999. We are specialist antiquarians dealing in historic maps from all over the world and in all price ranges. Our enthusiasm, passion, and devotion to scholarship is expressed in our meticulously researched descriptions, among the most detailed and comprehensive available anywhere, for each and every rare map that passes over our desk. This same devotion guides the relationships of honesty and trust we have fostered with our clients, whether through purchasing or selling a rare map, getting an appraisal, or simply calling to discuss antique maps in general. We are happy to assist you no matter whether you are an interior decorator, an institution, an experienced collector, or are just looking for a single antique map. Geographicus is a member of the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America), the ILAB (International League of Antiquarian Booksellers), the New York Map Society, the Washington Map Society, the IMCOS, and the Society for the History of Discoveries. While primarily an internet-based company, we are happy to meet with clients to show our antique maps by appointment at our New York City location.

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