Reviews: Atlas of Kenya

Summary

This brief review introduces the newly published *Atlas of Kenya*, the country’s first national atlas, which offers a comprehensive synopsis of its physical and human geography. Compiled, drawn, and printed by the Survey of Kenya under the direction of R. J. Butler and edited by B. A. McArthur-Davis, the first edition appeared in late 1959. The atlas consists of forty-five clearly produced plates that maintain a high standard of cartography. In addition to standard maps of physical and human geography, it presents a wide range of administrative maps. Provincial maps at the scale of 1:1,000,000 are layer-coloured, with communications emphasized and a limited selection of place names. Topical maps at 1:3,000,000 are based on data supplied by government departments and research organizations. For the historical geographer, the atlas includes an interesting series of early map reproductions, notably the 1856 maps by Erhardt and Rebmann, which marked the beginning of the European exploration era in East Africa. The review highlights the atlas’s value as a reference tool for both contemporary geographical studies and historical geography research.