Letts’s map of The Soudan, including the Nile, Red Sea, West Coast of Arabia, and Abyssinia, and a Plan of Khartum.

One Shilling. [Drop title]. London : Letts, Son & Co. Ltd., Map Publishers, 33 King William Street, London Bridge, [c.1885]. Third edition. Cased colour map titled ‘Letts’s Map of The Nile, embracing The Soudan, Abyssinia, the Red Sea, and Western Arabia’, 740 x 560 mm (sheet), folding to 200 x 100 mm, housed within in the publisher’s pebbled cloth boards with the printed title to front; the map is detached from the boards, and has some light scattered staining and some old glue repairs along the folds verso.

This is the third edition of a scarce map produced for a jingoistic British public during the Mahdist War. (The first edition was published in 1883). It was published in between the first and second Suakin Expeditions. The map has territorial boundaries marked in colour. Among many interesting details are various Hajj routes, names of tribes, explorers’ routes, caravan routes, sites from antiquity, wells, and mineral deposits.

The following Letts advertisement appeared in the Publishers’ Circular, 16 February 1885:

Letts’s War Maps. All the Maps mentioned below are selling very fast just now. They are compiled with the greatest care from the Maps issued by the Intelligence Department of the War Office and from various official plans and documents.

LETTS’S MAP OF THE COUNTRY ROUND KHARTUM, on a very large scale, extending about 100 miles north and 50 miles south, east, and west of the town. All places are carefully laid down and named, and the hills and physical features appear, together with all towns and villages along the Nile. A large detailed plan of the town of Khartum is given, with the fortifications. Size, 29 inches by 20. Scale, 6 miles to an inch. Price, in sheet, beautifully printed in colors, 1/-. On linen, in case, 2/6.

Letts’s large scale Map of the Eastern Sudan, showing the APPROACHES TO KHARTUM, both from the Nile and Suakim, marking sites of all recent battles, with routes, wells, villages, and names of tribes. Size, 25 inches by 23. Folded, 1/-. On linen, in case, 2/6.

LETTS’S GENERAL MAP OF THE SUDAN, giving the whole country between Alexandria and Khartum, with all names and topographical detail. Second edition, thoroughly revised, and containing an inset map extending from England to India. Size, 22 inches by 29. Folded, in case, 1/-.

Letts’s Bird’s Eye View of the Sudan, giving in a perspective view the whole course of the Nile up to Khartum. The natural features of the country appear at a glance, and names of tribes are given. Printed in colors. Size 19 by 22 inches. Folded, 6d. Boxes of Flags, containing 1 dozen each British, and Rebel Flags, for marking War Maps. 6d per box.