"A request is a request is a request."

S - You sound frustrated at the responses you are getting from this thread. One of your other recent threads felt similarly confusing to respond to, as the OP lacked clarity. That wasn't a problem in that instance (and I do it to, when seeking general thoughts), but one of the probs you may have had in getting the specific response you seek on this thread, is in the similarly rambling style of your OP. Too much general chatter can obsfucate what is in fact a fairly simple and straightforward request (in this instance a *recommendation for paper history maps of Africa, that you can laminate*).

I'm not having a go at you BTW. Just thinking that if you are going to continue with posting questions concerning your current area of self directed study, it might be worth tightening up the phrasing of your questions to MC.
"Concision and precision", as one of my old teachers used to say.. ;-)

Anyways, good luck with the study partner, I actually rather like the idea of a virtual person to explore a mutual area of interest with. Unfortunately Africa ain't my thing tho'.