Africa, from "Court Game of Geography" 1838 - 1855

"Africa, from 'Court Game of Geography'" was produced by William and Henry Rock, lithographers working in the mid-19th century. This simple educational card game was created during the height of European colonial expansion, and reflects the era's geographical knowledge and political agendas. The map presents a vision of Africa deeply entangled with European interests. Place names such as "Colony of G. Hope" and "English Settlan" mark territories claimed and controlled by European powers. The African continent is depicted as a resource to be extracted and a land to be divided, with little regard for the complex societies already established there. A shamrock is emblazoned in the middle of the continent; it may be a symbol for the Rock brothers' Irish heritage. This inclusion of national identity into the geographical landscape raises questions about the subjective nature of cartography. This game is more than an educational tool; it's a cultural artifact that reveals the intertwined histories of knowledge, power, and identity during a critical period of global transformation. It serves as a potent reminder of the human stories behind maps.