This stunning, large, and highly detailed map of Africa was published in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I. It highlights the maritime routes between Germany and the African continent, operated by various German shipping companies: Woermann-Linie, Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie, Hamburg-Amerika Linie, and Hamburg-Bremer Afrika-Linie. These companies were established as alternatives to British shipping lines, representing Germany’s maritime efforts to secure a presence in Africa.
In the upper right corner, the map includes an inset describing the coastline of the German colony of Cameroon, featuring a smaller box that details the course of the Cameroon River. Below it, another inset illustrates part of German East Africa, specifically Tanzania.
A notable feature of this map, based on the cartography of R. Luddecke, is the large and refined depiction of a steamship at sea, designed by the Russian-German painter Wladimir Linde. In the lower right corner, there is the title, two scales for distances expressed in kilometers and nautical miles, and a comprehensive legend for interpreting the map. Different colors represent the colonial possessions of Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Graphical symbols indicate cities and towns based on population, military forts, ruins, railways, caravan routes, mountain passes, wells, springs, and swamps. An alphabetical list of abbreviations for geographic terms in local languages, alongside their German equivalents, is included, while districts in the Belgian Congo and German East Africa are identified using Roman numerals.
This map was conceived by Wagner & Debes and published in Hamburg by L. Friederichsen & Co. in 1914.
Wladimir Linde was a prominent painter of Russian-German descent. Born in the late 19th century, he gained recognition for his maritime paintings, especially those depicting ships and oceanic scenes. His work often reflected the technological advancements of the era and the romanticism associated with exploration and trade. Linde’s collaboration with cartographers like R. Luddecke showcases his ability to blend art with practical applications in cartography, elevating the aesthetic quality of maps produced during this period. His contributions are significant in understanding the visual culture of early 20th-century Europe, particularly in the context of colonial ambitions and maritime commerce.
