1909 Lowe Bicycling Map of the Environs of Algiers, Algeria

This is a 1909 Émile Lowe cycling map of the environs of Algiers, Algeria. The map documents the introduction of cycling to colonial Algeria and how, there, as elsewhere, cycling evolved into a popular pastime that encouraged the development of good roads, ultimately paving the way for the automobile age.

A Closer Look

The map depicts northern Algeria from the Mediterranean Sea to Blida. Cyclable roads with milage are highlighted in red overprinting, while uncyclable roads are marked in black.

Cycling in Algeria

Bicycles arrived in Algrea sometime in the mid-1880s, when English aristocrats, wintering in Algeria introduced the novel contraption, the velocipede, to Algerian society, instigating a new popular pastime. In subsequent decades, cycling grew in popularity with the French colonial population, and as access to bicycles became more prevalent, immigrant communities and Algerians themselves began to enjoy cycling's social, athletic, and transportation benefits. By 1909, when this map was issued, the Union Vélocipédique Algérienne ran local clubs in Algiers and Oran organized amateur races, time trials, or long-distance rides.

Publication History and Census

This map was originally drawn by Émile Lowe, engraved by J. Duvert, and published by P. Duvert in Algiers in 1899. Adolphe Jourdan published a 2nd edition in 1907 and a 3rd edition in 1909 (present example). We know of one surviving example of the 1899 edition, which is part of the collection at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. One example of the 1907 edition is cataloged in OCLC at Harvard University. This is the only known surviving example of the 1909 edition.