A colorful and rare miniature map of Central Africa, transfer printed on domed ceramic paperweight base, made for map publisher John G. Bartholomew, Edinburgh by James Macintyre & Co. in 1889 and confirmed by dating of the Registration Number of 141265 printed on the base of the paperweight.
The map shows colonial/British Empire era Central Africa and includes most of the African continent centered on the Congo, with simple cartography in shades of yellow, blue, green, red and pink. Major rivers, oceans, lakes and several port cities are shown. Some countries are named, and others are labeled with colonial designations such as British East Africa, German East Africa, German Damara Land, French Congo, British Niger Company, and French Sphere of Influence. Present-day Egypt is called Nubia, and Ethiopia is called Abyssinia.
The cream-colour heavy ceramic base has a scalloped sides, incised border, and red line painted decorations with the map transfer-printed onto the domed top. The underside has the stamped circular JM&Co. logo and the printed registration number.
John Bartholomew & Son, Ltd. has been publishing maps and atlases from the 19th century to the present day. Its founder, John G. Bartholomew (1831-1893), was a Scottish cartographer, mapmaker and publisher. He also helped to found the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He was trained by his father, who had a cartographical establishment in Edinburgh. After working as the assistant to the German geographer August Petermann, he took over management of his father's firm in 1856. His Edinburgh Geographical Institute built a reputation for the production of the finest cartographical work, including a notable series of contour maps of Great Britain derived from the Ordnance Survey. After John Bartholomew’s death, the firm continued to have a distinguished reputation in map publishing, receiving international recognition for their cartography for the Times Atlas (1895) and during the 20th century for The Times Survey Atlas and The Times Atlas of the World.
We have seen only a couple of other different maps available, one being of London, the other showing 'British South Africa', though it is documented that a 'Western Hemisphere' was also commissioned by Bartholemew at the same time as the Central Africa paperweight.
We originally had two of these available, both identical and both in the same excellent condition with just a small amount of surface glaze crazing, but now only have the one left. A lovely and rare piece from the days when the British Empire 'ruled', and an excellent educational piece 122 years old!.
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