Antique Map of Algeria, Tunisia & Tripolitania – Andriveau-Goujon, Paris 1865

€ 310

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Date: 1865
Mapmaker / artist: E. Andriveau-Goujon, Paris, 1865
Technique: Engraving with original hand coloring
Sheet size: 70.2 × 53.1 cm (27.6 × 20.9 in)
Reference: BG-14099-18

What the condition grades mean

Excellent: Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good: Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good: Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair: Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.

Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.

Condition

Very good condition with original hand color. Light toning at the edges and some minor creases near the centerfold, typical for atlas maps of this age. No tears or repairs.

About this sheet

Antique Map of Algeria, Tunisia & Tripolitania – Andriveau-Goujon, Paris 1865

This finely detailed and beautifully colored map was engraved and published in Paris in 1865 by the renowned cartographer E. Andriveau-Goujon. Titled Carte d’Algérie, de la Tunisie et de la Tripolitaine, it captures a key region of North Africa during the 19th century, when colonial interests were rapidly expanding and geopolitical dynamics were in flux.

The map focuses on the northern stretch of Africa along the Mediterranean, showing the territories of modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, western Libya (then known as Tripolitaine), and parts of the Sahara. Coastal cities such as Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli are prominently marked, as are key inland locations such as Constantine, Biskra, and Ghadames.

What sets this map apart is the inclusion of detailed topographic information, including mountain ranges, wadis (riverbeds), and the extensive desert terrain that defines much of the interior. French military routes and administrative boundaries are overlaid across Algeria, which by this time had been colonized by France (since 1830), and whose mapping was of both strategic and political significance.

In the bottom right corner, the map features a well-detailed inset titled Carte d’Ensemble de l’Afrique Septentrionale, providing an overview of the broader Maghreb and Sahel regions, including Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, and parts of modern-day Mali and Niger. The inset serves as a geographic context for the larger regional interactions in West and North Africa, particularly with regard to trade, French exploration, and colonial expansion.

The map is a compelling document for collectors interested in the history of French colonial cartography, North African geopolitics, and the shifting understanding of Africa’s geography in the mid-19th century.

Framing tips: A dark brown or matte black frame with an ivory or sand-colored mat would best highlight the map’s delicate coloration and historical detail.