Between mapping and maps: Translocal knowledge in the making of Hochstetter and Petermann's Atlas of New Zealand (1863)

This article examines the making of the first atlas of New Zealand, by the Viennese geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter (1829–1884) and the Gotha cartographer August Petermann (1822–1878). It offers novel insights into the production, exchange, and transformation of map knowledge from the field to the printing press. The Geologisch-Topographischer Atlas von Neu-Seeland (1863) was instrumental in shaping the geographical imagination of New Zealand in the late nineteenth century, yet its origins have largely remained unknown. By studying previously untapped archival sources such as correspondence, field notes, and sketch maps, this article analyses how spatial information circulated over long distances between diverse actors and sites. It traces this ‘translocal’ knowledge from Hochstetter's fieldwork in New Zealand during the Austrian frigate SMS Novara's circumnavigation (1857–1859) to the cartographic visualisation under Petermann at the publishing house Justus Perthes in Gotha. Special attention is given to the negotiations among key figures and institutions in their efforts to establish authority and credibility. Their reliance on often marginalised actors, both within and beyond Europe, highlights the power–knowledge dynamics that influenced the mapmaking process. • Explores the making of the first atlas of New Zealand. • Offers fresh perspectives on the production, exchange, and transformation of map knowledge — from fieldwork to print. • Draws on overlooked archival sources such as correspondence, field notes, and sketch maps. • Brings into view marginalised actors within and beyond European contexts. • Analyses the circulation of ‘translocal’ knowledge and reveals the power–knowledge dynamics shaping the mapmaking process.