Stations on the Ogowe, Kwilu, & Congo Rivers

This unusual map shows the coastline of Africa from the River Ogowe to the River Congo and slightly beyond to the station of Ambriz. This encompasses modern-day Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northern Angola. The coastline shows a row of trading stations belonging to the English, Dutch, and Portuguese but the most interesting feature is the collection of settlements labelled as International Association Stations, referring to the International Association of the Congo. This was the body that King Leopold of Belgium used to claim this vast area as a personal fiefdom. [AFR5262]