Timbuktu Collection

Timbuktu in Africa, as drawn by Rene-Auguste Caillie, the first European visitor, 1828. Hand-colored 19th-century woodcut reproduction of Caillies illustration

Mali, Timbuktu. An Islamic teacher corrects a childs homework on a wooden slate in Timbuktu. Since ancient times, Timbuktu has been a place of Islamic learning

Famous sign for Tombouctou, Zagora, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Mali, Africa - Young women from Timbuktu
Mali, Africa - Two young women from Timbuktu Date: circa 1910s

Mali, Africa - Two women from Timbuktu Date: circa 1910s

A hand-painted sign showing the time it would take to reach Timbuktu in Mali (52 days) if one were to set off across the Sahara Desert on a camel

Young Tuareg man smoking small pipe and wearing headscarf, Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa, Africa

Painted road sign pointing in the direction of Tombouctou (Timbuktu), in the town of Zagora, Vallee du Draa (Draa Valley), Anti Atlas, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Timbuktu, and the fatal ambush of a column of French troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Bonnier
5998709 Timbuktu, and the fatal ambush of a column of French troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Bonnier, 15 January 1894 (coloured engraving) by French School

The French colonial empire, late 19th - early 20th Century (colour litho)
5207769 The French colonial empire, late 19th - early 20th Century (colour litho) by Girard, Joseph (fl.1930-50); Private Collection; (add.info.: The French colonial empire)

Entry of Lieutenant-Colonel Bonnier into Timbuktu (chromolitho)
667697 Entry of Lieutenant-Colonel Bonnier into Timbuktu (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Entry of Lieutenant-Colonel Bonnier into Timbuktu)

Desert Storm
Martin Steeb

BARTH / AFRICA / LAKE CHAD
Herd of elephants, Lake Chad: Dr Heinrich Barth crossed the Sahara from Tripoli, through the Chad basin to Timbuktu, where he did work on the languages and ethnography. Date: September 1851

TIMBUKTU, 1830. Rene Caillies drawing of Timbuktu, Mali, 1830

Mali - Tuareg men from Timbucktu
Mali - Two Tuareg men from Timbucktu, holding spears. The Tuareg are a Berber nomadic pastoralist people, known as the People of the Veil

Mali - Timbuktu - A fine portrait of a local man with staff
Mali - Timbuktu - A fine portrait of a hirsute local man with bamboo staff and steely gaze... Date: circa 1909

Women of Sudan in striped robes, Timbuktu, and Tibbo people.. Handcolored lithograph from Friedrich Wilhelm Goedsches Complete Gallery of Peoples in True Pictures, Meissen, circa 1835-1840

Wood Market - Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa - a scarce commodity in the arid desert landscape of Central Mali. Date: circa 1910s

MALI. TIMBUKTU. Tombouctou. Adobe traditional

Timbuktu, Mali - The Wood Market
The Wood Market - Timbuktu, Mali

Mali Tombouktou
(aka Timbuktu etc) Rooftop view

Timbuktu, Mali (Tombuktu) in the 17th century

Caillie / Ellenger
Caillie crossing the Tankisso on his way to Timbuktu

MALI, Timbuktu Camel trekkers in the Saharan sands near Timbuktu

Timbuctoo, c1852, (1903). Artist: Johann Martin Bernatz
Timbuctoo, c1852, (1903). From The Worlds History, Volume III, by Dr. H. F. Helmolt [William Heinemann, London, 1903]

Dr Heinrich Barth, German geographer and explorer, (c1900)
Dr Heinrich Barth, German geographer and explorer, at Timbuktu, Mali, (c1900)

The raising of the French flag at Timbuktu, 1894. Artist: Frederic Lix
The raising of the French flag at Timbuktu, 1894. The French began military incursions into the area in 1880

Mali - Timbuktu - Moorish Camps / settlements north of the town. Date: circa 1910

Mali - Timbuktu - The Ponds (Mares) - Fetching water
Mali - Timbuktu - The Ponds (Mares) - Large excavations dug out of the sand to draw up water from the depths. Date: circa 1910

Mali - Timbuktu - The Ponds (Mares) - Large excavations dug out of the sand to draw up water from the depths. Date: circa 1907

TIMBUKTU, 1894. French forces seize the Saharan city of Timbuktu from the Tuaregs, January 1894. Wood engraving from a contemporary French newspaper

Big Game hunter sending his last postcard
A big game hunter who has (what rotten luck!) become a lunchtime snack for his intended victim (a very jolly lion) sends his last address which is: In Red Lion, Timbuktu !!!!!!! Date: 1906

Tombouctou 52 days direction sign in desert town, Zagora, Sahara, Morocco, may

Timbuktu, Mali - House belonging to Caille
Timbuktu, Mali - the house owned and occupied by the French explorer Rene Caille in 1828

Timbuktu, Mali - House belonging to Barth
Timbuktu, Mali - House belonging to German Explorer Heinrich Barth (occupied 1853 - 1854)

Timbuktu, Mali - House belonging to Lenz
Timbuktu, Mali - the house owned and occupied by the Austrian explorer Lenz in 1880

Timbuktu, Mali - Local Musician (cartoon)
1st prize at the Timbuktu Conservatoire! A local musician playing a simple guitar-like instrument, played with a bow

Mali - Timbuktu - Water Carrier and Banana plant
Timbuktu, Mali. A water carrier standing alongside a Banana plant

Mali - Timbuktu - official buildings

Mali - Timbuktu - Home of Laing
Timbuktu, Mali - the house owned and occupied by the British explorer Laing during September 1826

Mali - Timbuktu - Tuaregs
A group of Tuareg Horsemen and foot soldiers - Timbuktu, Mali

Barth / Timbuktu / Camel
TOMBOUCTU (TIMBUKTU) reached by German traveller Heinrich Barth during his exploration of West Africa

Barth / Africa / Musgu
Interior of a Musgu dwelling: Dr Heinrich Barth crossed the Sahara from Tripoli, through the Chad basin to Timbuktu, where he did work on the languages and ethnography. Date: 1851

Barth / Africa / Encampment
Encampment in the forest: Dr Heinrich Barth crossed the Sahara from Tripoli, through the Chad basin to Timbuktu, where he did work on the languages and ethnography

Central Africans
Left, a man and woman of Timbuktu : on their right, two people of the Tibbo people

Woman from Timbuktu
A woman from Timbuktu holding a fan made from feathers

Chad / Lake Chad / Elephants
Herd of elephants, Lake Chad: Dr Heinrich Barth crossed the Sahara from Tripoli, through the Chad basin to Timbuktu, where he did work on the languages and ethnography

Gordon Laings house, Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa, Africa

Timbuktu (Tombouctou), Mali, Africa

View over rooftops, Timbuctoo, Mali, Africa

Racial / W Africa / Mali 19C
Young woman from Timbuktu, Mali, wearing a pointed hat and carrying a fan of pink and green feathers

Mali / Timbuktu 1870
General view of Timbuktu

Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa
General view of Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa

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EDITORS COMMENTS

"Timbuktu: A Hidden Gem of Mali, Africa" Discover the enchanting city in Mali, a place shrouded in mystery and rich history. Known for its famous sign that reads "Tombouctou, " this ancient city has captivated travelers for centuries. In the heart of West Africa, Timbuktu is home to vibrant communities like young women who proudly represent their heritage. Their colorful attire reflects the diversity and cultural richness found within these walls. As you wander through the bustling streets, you might encounter two women from Timbuktu gracefully going about their daily lives. Their warm smiles reflect the hospitality that permeates this extraordinary place. Immerse yourself in local traditions by meeting a young Tuareg man donning a headscarf while leisurely smoking his small pipe. His tranquil demeanor embodies the peaceful spirit that prevails amidst the desert landscape. A hand-painted sign reminds us of the arduous journey it once took to reach Timbuktu – 52 days across vast deserts and challenging terrains. This detail from the Catalan Atlas transports us back to an era when adventurers sought this fabled destination. Follow painted road signs pointing towards Tombouctou as you traverse through mesmerizing landscapes inhabited by West African Tuareg Horse Warriors. These skilled riders evoke images of ancient times when they safeguarded trade routes and preserved their nomadic way of life. Marvel at architectural wonders like Sankore Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where echoes of prayers still resonate today. Witness a young boy walking along its sacred grounds, carrying on age-old traditions with each step he takes. Timbuktu remains an enigma waiting to be unraveled – an oasis steeped in legends and tales passed down through generations. Explore this hidden gem where history meets modernity against breathtaking Saharan vistas; it's an experience unlike any other.