Appreciation post: my 1978 National Geographic map of Africa still calls Zimbabwe Rhodesia

Pat Hall · 2026-10-07T22:35:03.34261+00:00

I found a 1978 National Geographic map of Africa at an estate sale in Boise three years ago and finally framed it over the weekend. The whole southern half is a time capsule: Zimbabwe is labeled Rhodesia, Namibia is still South West Africa, and Upper Volta sits right there in West Africa. My brother says maps like this are just outdated junk and belong in a recycling bin, but I think they show how much the world changed in only a few decades. A guy at the flea market wanted $40 for it and I talked him down to $15, which feels like a steal for a piece of history. So where do you all stand: keep the old borders visible as a record, or is it disrespectful to show names that no longer exist? Curious how everyone here decides what earns wall space.

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Appreciation post: my 1978 National Geographic map of Africa still calls Zimbabwe Rhodesia | Dated Map Finds - Topic Shares