Lower Guinea, from "Court Game of Geography" 1838 - 1855

This lithograph of ‘Lower Guinea’ was produced by William and Henry Rock in the mid-19th century as part of a card game about geography. It depicts the west coast of Southern Africa, from modern-day Gabon to Namibia. However, this seemingly innocuous educational tool operates within a specific social and cultural context. The 19th century saw a surge in European colonial expansion into Africa, fuelled by economic interests and a belief in European superiority. Maps like these weren't neutral; they actively shaped perceptions of Africa for a British audience. The inclusion of tribal names and the omission of detailed geographical information served to reinforce the idea of Africa as a collection of disparate, ‘primitive’ societies ripe for European intervention. Notice the shamrocks; while not integral to the map, could their presence point to an appeal to Irish immigrants in America? Understanding this image requires historical research, looking into British colonial attitudes, the role of cartography in shaping public opinion, and the ways in which knowledge itself becomes a tool of power.