The Partition of Africa

First edition, 1893, of this scarce and important book on the 19th century scramble for and partition of Africa. At the time of publication it was the first comprehensive account of the partition of Africa: it describes in detail how European states obtained possessions on the African continent during the scramble.

John Scott Keltie was Times journalist and a stalwart of the Royal Geographical Society who made a significant contribution to political geography and geography education. In view of the unavailability of both the first and second, 1895, edition of the book it was republished by Cambridge University Press in 2014: 'Keltie's presentation of the topic was well received and remained of lasting relevance, being described in his obituary as 'the best text-book of that exploration and division of a forgotten continent'; also: 'it is the most comprehensive account of when and how different powers acquired titles to different areas of Africa'. The book also has been digitised by Google.

The second edition was recently exhibited in the Kings College Collection. From the journal, Nature (of which Keltie had been a sub-editor) "THE author of this book does not wish it to be regarded as a contribution either to the geography of Africa or to the history of African exploration. His object has been to present "a brief connected narrative of the remarkable events which, during the last eight years, have led to the partition of the bulk of Africa among certain of the powers of Europe". In carrying out this purpose, Mr. Keltie displays wide knowledge, sound judgment, and an admirable power of lucid and effective exposition ... gives evidence of a thorough grasp of the principles which can alone be of vital service in the study of geography. This is especially true of a luminous and interesting chapter on "the economic value of Africa." The importance of the work is greatly increased by a large number of carefully-selected and well-executed maps.

From Mendelssohn's South African Bibliography: '.... The history of the continent is sketched from the times of the ancients to "the Islamic Invasion," and a narrative is given of the " Portuguese circumnavigators," brought up to the period when the domination of Portugal was challenged by the rival attempts at colonisation set on foot by the French, Dutch, and British. Interesting chapters describe "the position in 1815"; the "sixty years of preparation" for the partition, during which the exploration of the continent paved the way for its future division; and separate articles deal with the operations of the various governments of the respective future spheres of influence or established colonies.' This is the scarce first edition of the book; it has been rebacked using the original boards; the stain from an illustration or label, now lost, remains on the front board. The pages are uncut.

xv1; 498 pp: includes Appendix I (population and country areas); Appendix II (an extensive bibliography); 24 p index. 21 maps. Both the first and second editions of ths book are very seldom available. A loose facsimile preface to the second edition (1895) is presented between front end papaers.

This first edition is an invaluable addition to any collection of books on the scramble for and partition of Africa in the 19th century.