Old Topographical Map of Egypt by Bartholomew, 1922: Cairo, Alexandria, Suez Canal, Nile Delta, Red Sea

2026-04-26T00:21:47+01:00

Prix : 0.00 - 1875.00 (36 variants)

Egypt and the Nile is the resonant title that crowns J. G. John George Bartholomew’s 1922 vision of the riverine heart of North Africa, created at the Edinburgh Geographical Institute and produced by John Bartholomew & Son, Ltd. Issued for The Times atlas—the unrivalled standard-bearer of accuracy—this second issue of the 1920 edition carries forward a tradition first launched in 1895, yet unmistakably embraces a modern cartographic idiom. An ornate cartouche anchors the composition, while crisp, hierarchical lettering and methodical color organize an immense body of geographical knowledge. The result is a map poised between the late Victorian appetite for grandeur and the early twentieth century’s scientific clarity, distilling Egypt’s physical drama and political realities into a single, authoritative image.

Bartholomew renders the land with hypsometric tints that sweep from the cool greens of the Nile’s fecund ribbon to the sun-burnished ochres of the Western and Eastern Deserts, punctuated by spot heights that pick out escarpments and the austere ridges of Sinai. Bathymetric shading deepens the surrounding seas, revealing continental shelves in the Mediterranean and the narrow trench of the Red Sea. The Nile is followed from the bifurcated Delta and its two great mouths to the cataract country near Aswan, threading past Cairo and Giza before turning through the corridor of antiquity. To the north and east, Alexandria, Port Said, and Suez are set with crystalline precision, and the Suez Canal—with its Bitter Lakes—forms the pivotal artery linking Mediterranean trade to the Indian Ocean.

Maritime and communications history animates the sheet. Finely ruled shipping routes stitch the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, converging upon Port Said and Suez before sweeping down toward the Aden region and beyond to the Indian Ocean world. Along these arcs, measured distances speak to the tempo of steam, charting the age of regular timetables and coaling schedules. Submarine cable pathways, the nervous system of empire and commerce, spear outward from Alexandria into the Levant and Europe, and from Suez toward the Arabian Sea, inscribing the invisible threads that compressed continents into hours. On the river itself, marked steamer tracks attest to Nile navigation, a seasonal choreography negotiating barrages and cataracts to bind Upper and Lower Egypt into a single economic spine.

The political framework is drawn with lucid economy. Clearly labeled boundaries delineate Egypt’s borders and internal divisions, while the long southern frontier with Anglo‑Egyptian Sudan is traced with the cartographic assurance that characterized the period. The Sinai land bridge is set apart by both color and relief, emphasizing its role as hinge between Africa and Asia. Insets focused on Alexandria and its environs amplify the story: breakwaters, harbor basins, railheads, and canalized waterways are articulated to reveal the city’s industrial and maritime reach across the Delta. Urban names constellate along the littoral and within the Delta’s lattice of channels, from the approaches to Port Said to the shoulders of Rosetta and Damietta, mapping a landscape where antiquity and modern infrastructure entwine.

Behind the clarity lies Bartholomew’s mature craft: the refined layer-coloring he championed; the disciplined typography that sorts cities, rivers, and relief at a glance; and the Edinburgh Geographical Institute’s exacting engraving tradition. As a contribution to The Times atlas, it epitomizes the early twentieth century’s shift from heroic exploration to administered connectivity—railways, telegraphs, canals, and standardized sea-lanes—without sacrificing aesthetic grace. Scholars and collectors prize such work for the way it compresses multiple narratives into one intelligible surface: the hydraulics of the Nile, the geopolitics of the Canal Zone, the mesh of submarine cables, and the lived geography of Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Port Said, and Suez. It is a learned, elegant statement of Egypt’s centrality to a newly networked world.

Cities and towns on this map

Cairo (modern population: ~9 million)

Alexandria (modern population: ~5 million)

Giza (modern population: ~2 million)

Port Said (modern population: ~750,000)

Suez (modern population: ~750,000)

Notable Features & Landmarks

Hypsometric tints showing elevation changes

Bathymetric tints denoting underwater depths

Shipping routes marked across the Nile and surrounding waters

Submarine cable pathways illustrated

Spot heights indicating specific elevations

Inset maps providing additional geographic details of Alexandria and surroundings

Clearly labeled political boundaries

Historical and design context

Mapmaker and Publisher: Created by J G John George Bartholomew in 1922; published by the Edinburgh Geographical Institute and produced by John Bartholomew & Son, Ltd.

Historical Context: This map is part of "The Times" atlas, known for its accuracy and detail. It represents a transition in cartographic style, as it is the second issue of the 1920 edition; the original was released in 1895.

Topics and Themes: The map illustrates both physical and political features of Egypt and the Nile, focusing on shipping routes, submarine cable pathways, and distances, showcasing maritime navigation history.

Design and Style: The map includes relief representation through hypsometric tints and spot heights, with bathymetric tints to denote underwater depths. It features a clear and ornate cartouche, typical of Bartholomew's later work.

Historical Significance: Highlights changes in cartographic practices and map-making techniques during the early 20th century, and serves as an important educational resource for historical research.

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