1872 Josef Erben Map of the Czech Republic / Czechia / Bohemia

An important 1872 Josef Erben chromolithograph map of Bohemia (Czech Republic). This map represents a significant moment of Czech cultural revival, being one of the first maps of Bohemia issued fully in Czech and, more importantly, an all-Czech production. The Czech cartographic content subsequently formed the framework for most subsequent Czech and Slavic toponymy.

Czech Nationalism

The issue of this map follows closely on the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. This agreement established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, but was a point of contention in Bohemia, which, although included within the empire, was not a co-equal power. General dissatisfaction with the situation led to a rise in Czech nationalism and a search for Czech identity. Czech language art, literature, and cartography flourished.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This map was first issued in 1869 by K. Jansky in Jindrichuv Hradec and Tabor and printed by the Institute for Lithography Bedrich Sandtner in Wenceslaus Square, in Prague. The present example, dated 1872, is the final edition. The map appears occasionally on the market but is scarce in institutional collections. The example in the David Rumsey Map Collection is dated 1870 but exhibits a state change in the title text from other examples dated 1870. In addition to the example in the Rumsey Collection, we see two examples of the 1870 edition in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the British Library. One example of this 1872 edition is in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. An example is cataloged in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin with the questionable date of 1865.