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1747 Bowen Map of Southwest Germany with France and Luxemburg
SouthwestGermany-bowen-1747$150.00
Title
A New and Accurate Map of the South West part of Germany. Comprehending the Archbishoprics of Mentz and Treves, the Electoral Palat, of the Rhine, Duchy of Wirtemberg, Franconia, Swabia, Alsace, Lorrain etc.
1747 (undated) 13 x 9.5 in (33.02 x 24.13 cm) 1 : 2300000
1747 (undated) 13 x 9.5 in (33.02 x 24.13 cm) 1 : 2300000
Description
This is beautiful 1747 map of the southwestern part of Germany by the British cartographer Emanuel Bowen. It covers the southwestern parts of Germany along with parts of modern day France and Luxemburg. The Duchy of Luxemburg, Wirtember, Swabia, Alsee, Lorrain, Franconia, the Archbishoprics of Mentz and Treves, and the Bishoprics of Augsburg, Bamberg, etc. are also included. Cities of Luxemburg, Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg, Basel, Ulm, Baden, Mainz, etc. are noted. Includes the important mediaeval and renaissance center of Nuremburg. Today Franconia is a historic district and has been consolidated with Bavaria.
The bottom half of the map includes a large inset detailing the 'Exact plans of old and new Brisac or Brisach (Breisach), with their fortifications and places adjacent.' Situated on the Rhine River Breisach changed hands between the French and Holy Roman Empires during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The inset details forts and roads, with a reference along the right margin. New Brisach is detailed in a smaller inset above the title. Throughout the map notes several towns, cities, rivers, lakes, roads and a host of additional topographical features, with mountains beautifully rendered in profile. A beautiful title cartouche is included in the top right quadrant. This map was prepared by Emanuel Bowen as plate no. 16 for the 1747 issue of A Complete System of Geography.
The bottom half of the map includes a large inset detailing the 'Exact plans of old and new Brisac or Brisach (Breisach), with their fortifications and places adjacent.' Situated on the Rhine River Breisach changed hands between the French and Holy Roman Empires during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The inset details forts and roads, with a reference along the right margin. New Brisach is detailed in a smaller inset above the title. Throughout the map notes several towns, cities, rivers, lakes, roads and a host of additional topographical features, with mountains beautifully rendered in profile. A beautiful title cartouche is included in the top right quadrant. This map was prepared by Emanuel Bowen as plate no. 16 for the 1747 issue of A Complete System of Geography.
Cartographer
Emanuel Bowen (1694 - May 8, 1767) had the high distinction to be named Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of England and Louis XV of France. Bowen was born in Talley, Carmarthen, Wales, to a distinguished but not noble family. He apprenticed to Charles Price, Merchant Taylor, from 1709. He was admitted to the Merchant Taylors Livery Company on October 3, 1716, but had been active in London from about 1714. A early as 1726 he was noted as one of the leading London engravers. Bowen is highly regarded for producing some of the largest, most detailed, most accurate and most attractive maps of his era. He is known to have worked with most British cartographic figures of the period including Herman Moll and John Owen. Among his multiple apprentices, the most notable were Thomas Kitchin, Thomas Jeffreys, and John Lodge. Another apprentice, John Oakman (1748 - 1793) who had an affair with and eventually married, Bowen's daughter. Other Bowen apprentices include Thomas Buss, John Pryer, Samuel Lyne, his son Thomas Bowen, and William Fowler. Despite achieving peer respect, renown, and royal patronage, Bowen, like many cartographers, died in poverty. Upon Emanuel Bowen's death, his cartographic work was taken over by his son, Thomas Bowen (1733 - 1790) who also died in poverty. More by this mapmaker...
Source
Bowen, E., A Complete System of Geography. Being a description of all the countries, islands, cities, chief towns, harbours, lakes, and rivers, mountains, mines, etc., of the known world …, (London) 1747.
Condition
Very good. Original platemark visible. Blank on verso.
References
Rumsey 3733.015. Philips (atlases) 614 (1752 edition).