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1830 Lapie Map of Germany, Austria, and Poland
Allemagne-lapie-1829$87.50
Title
Carte d'Allemagne comprenant la Confederation Germanique l'Empire d'Autriche le Royaume de Prusse et le Royaume de Pologne.
1830 (dated) 16.5 x 22 in (41.91 x 55.88 cm)
1830 (dated) 16.5 x 22 in (41.91 x 55.88 cm)
Description
A fine first edition example of M. Lapie's 1831 map of Germany including the Germanic Confederation, the Austrian empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Kingdom of Poland. The map covers all of Germany, Poland, and Austria and the Germanic Confederation from the Baltic Sea to the Ottoman empire and from France to the Russian empire. The lower left corner of the map contains a table detailing the composition of the Germanic Confederation.
Under the Holy Roman empire, the area was home to over 300 Kleinstaaterei, or city-states. When Napoleon defeated the Holy Roman empire at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806, he condensed these states from 300 to 39. After Napoleon himself was defeated in 1814, the Congress of Vienna created The German Confederation to coordinate the economies of these separate but culturally related German-speaking countries. The Confederation acted as a buffer zone between Austria and Prussia, the two largest and most powerful member states. Nonetheless the rivalry between the two powerful states increased until it finally broke out into the Austro-Prussian War. Prussia won the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 which ultimately led to the collapse of the German Confederation. A few years later, in 1871, most of the former Confederation states were folded into the newly proclaimed German empire.
This map was engraved by Armand Joseph Lallemand as plate no. 26 in the first edition of M. Lapie's important Atlas Universel. This map, like all maps from the Atlas Universel features an embossed stamp from the Lapie firm.
Under the Holy Roman empire, the area was home to over 300 Kleinstaaterei, or city-states. When Napoleon defeated the Holy Roman empire at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806, he condensed these states from 300 to 39. After Napoleon himself was defeated in 1814, the Congress of Vienna created The German Confederation to coordinate the economies of these separate but culturally related German-speaking countries. The Confederation acted as a buffer zone between Austria and Prussia, the two largest and most powerful member states. Nonetheless the rivalry between the two powerful states increased until it finally broke out into the Austro-Prussian War. Prussia won the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 which ultimately led to the collapse of the German Confederation. A few years later, in 1871, most of the former Confederation states were folded into the newly proclaimed German empire.
This map was engraved by Armand Joseph Lallemand as plate no. 26 in the first edition of M. Lapie's important Atlas Universel. This map, like all maps from the Atlas Universel features an embossed stamp from the Lapie firm.
CartographerS
Pierre M. Lapie (fl. 1779 - 1850) and his son Alexandre Emile Lapie (fl. 1809 - 1850) were French cartographers and engravers active in the early part of the 19th century. The Lapies were commissioned officers in the French army holding the ranks of Colonel and Capitan, respectively. Alexander enjoyed the title of "First Geographer to the King", and this title appears on several of his atlases. Both father and son were exceptional engravers and fastidious cartographers. Working separately and jointly they published four important atlases, an 1811 Atlas of the French Empire (Alexander), the 1812 Atlas Classique et Universel (Pierre), the Atlas Universel de Geographie Ancienne et Modern (joint issue), and the 1848 Atlas Militaire (Alexander). They also issued many smaller maps and independent issues. All of these are products of exceptional beauty and detail. Despite producing many beautiful maps and atlases, the work of the Lapie family remains largely underappreciated by most modern collectors and map historians. The later 19th century cartographer A. H. Dufour claimed to be a student of Lapie, though it is unclear if he was referring to the father or the son. The work of the Lapie firm, with its precise engraving and informational density, strongly influenced the mid-19th century German commercial map publishers whose maps would eventually dominate the continental market. More by this mapmaker...
Armand Joseph Lallemand (c. 1810 - 1871) was an engraver and map publisher based in Paris during the mid-19th century. Most of Lallemand's work focused on landscapes and building vies, though he did take part in a few cartographic ventures, including the production of an atlas with Alexandre Emile Lapie and several tourist pocket maps of Paris. Learn More...
Source
Lapie, M., Atlas Universel de Geographie. Ancienne et Moderne, precede d'un Abrege de Geographic Physique et Historique…, 1829. (Rumsey identifies this as the first edition of Lapie's Atlas Universel. In all known examples, the title page is dated 1829 while the maps are dated variously to 1833 - suggesting that the first issue of this atlas was 1833, not 1829.)
Condition
Very good. Original platemark visible. Blank on verso. Original centerfold.
References
Rumsey 2174.026. Phillips (Atlases) 754, 765.