Umcecend von Peking und Nordlicher Theil der Provinz Pe-Tschili…

Mapmaker:

Augustus
Heinrich Petermann (1822 – 1898)

In
1847 Petermann moved to London and in 1850 founded his own
establishment: The Geographical
Establishment, Engraving, Lithographic and Printing Office.
In 1852 Ernst Georg Ravenstein (1834–1913) was apprenticed to him,
before he went in 1855 into the service of the Topographical
Department of the British War Office.

Petermann’s
firm published, among other things, maps for the Journal
of the Royal Geographical Society and
through this he established lifelong relationships with many
scientists, politicians and explorers. In 1847 he became a member of
the RGS. When he was 28 in 1850 he was elected under-Secretary. In
1868 he was awarded with the prestigious ‘Founders medal’ of the RGS.
Queen Victoria, at the suggestion of Robert Bunsen, appointed him
‘physical geographer-royal’. Early in his career Petermann wanted to
further the cause of geographical exploration as shown by his concern
for and interference with James Richardson’s expedition. The purpose
of this expedition, which was supported by the British government,
was to negotiate trade treaties with the rulers of the middle Sudan.
Petermann, supported by Carl Ritter and Robert Bunsen, pleaded with
the British government to let Heinrich Barth and Adolf Overweg join
up with Richardson’s expedition to assure that geographical and
scientific aspects which they might encounter were taken care of.
When still affiliated with the Zeitschrift
für Allgemeine Erdkunde, he
published their progress in this journal, and this was when he
started his very influential, Petermanns
geographische Mitteilungen. 

This
journal, which still exists today, greatly influenced the development
of scientific geography and cartography in Germany in the nineteenth
century. Numerous articles have been published by recognised experts
in this field, along with a multitude of illustrations, showing maps,
prints and photographs. The journal developed into an important
publication, setting the standard in the history of the great
expeditions and discoveries, and European colonial matters.

 His
long stay in Britain made him familiar with the best in British and
German geography, being fluent in both languages and having learnt
French, helped him to read widely.