Westafrikanische Kautschuk-Expedition

The work opens with a detailed statement of purpose: in the late‑19th century the global demand for natural rubber surged while European colonies struggled with over‑exploitation and dwindling yields. German officials therefore dispatched a specialist team, led by botanist Rudolf Schlechter, to explore West Africa’s untapped rubber potential and to lay the groundwork for a sustainable plantation system in Cameroon and Togoland. The introduction also outlines the many industrial partners and charitable funds that underwrote the venture, reflecting the era’s blend of scientific ambition and commercial interest.

Inside, the report blends meticulous field notes with a series of thirteen plates and fourteen illustrations that map out tree varieties, soil conditions, and early plantation layouts. Tables record yearly export figures—though some data, such as the 1896 output, remain missing—and the narrative describes interactions with local workers, logistical hurdles, and early successes in establishing trial crops. Readers gain a clear picture of how colonial administration, scientific inquiry, and emerging industry converged in the push to secure a reliable rubber supply.