The “Major Jackson’s Transvaal and Natal Series” of the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902): A Cartobibliographic Framework

Abstract

The Anglo Boer War (also known as the South African War) was fought between the two Boer Republics (the South African Republic or Transvaal, and the Orange Free State) and the British Empire from October 1899 until May 1902. Soon after Pretoria was occupied by British forces in June 1900, the Head of Topography of the local Field Intelligence Department, Major H.M. Jackson, commenced with the compilation of a map of the South African Republic and Natal to supersede the inadequate IDWO 1367 and Imperial Map. This new map, known as the Major Jackson’s or First Transvaal Series, was compiled on a scale of 1:148,752 (1,000 Cape roods or 2.34 miles per inch) and covered the whole of the Transvaal Republic, northern Natal, Zululand and Swaziland, and the western part of British Bechuanaland. Cartographically it is a fine example of a compilation map executed de novo for military purposes under conditions of extreme urgency in a foreign area devoid of a trigonometrical base. The compilation was done from available farm and mining surveys as corrected and supplemented by information gathered by the No 1. Survey Section which was sent to South Africa by the War Office, and various officers in the field. The method of reproduction used was lithography, and subsequently photolithography. By December 1900 the whole series was completed and during the ensuing months most of the sheets were repeatedly revised, many as much as up to six or seven times. Initiated to serve urgent military demands, the publication of the series was discontinued after the cessation of hostilities. This paper documents the progress of the survey, compilation and reproduction of the Major Jackson’s Series by using surviving maps and other archival material in South Africa and the UK.