L'atlas general du Congo Beige

Summary

The General Atlas of the Belgian Congo, presented by René Cambier on behalf of the Royal Belgian Colonial Institute, is the work of a commission within the Institute. Upon completion, it will comprise 60 to 70 plates covering all aspects of Belgium's colonial domain, each accompanied by explanatory notes in French and Flemish, the country's two national languages. The plates are organized under seven rubrics: History, Geodesy, Physical Environment, Biogeography, Anthropological and Cultural Sciences, Administrative and Social Policy, and Economy. The atlas opens with an introduction featuring a 1:3,000,000-scale map of the Congo with an alphabetical index of localities, while all other maps are at 1:1,000,000 scale, supplemented by larger-scale insets where needed. Currently, three maps are completed: the phytogeographic map by W. Robyns, the exploration routes map by René Cambier, and the national parks and nature reserves map by W. Robyns. It is expected that 8 to 10 plates will be produced annually, ensuring the atlas—a veritable encyclopedia of current knowledge on the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi—is finished in a relatively short time. Given the continuous advancement of knowledge, future editions are planned, justifying the limited first print run of 1,000 copies.