1920 Bannwarth Pictorial View of Dubrovnik, Croatia and Environs

Steamers along the Dalmatian Coast.

This is a striking c. 1920 chromolithograph view of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), Croatia, printed by Theodor Bannwarth for the Obalna Paroplovidba (Coastal Steamship Company). Aside from its stunning aesthetic qualities, the view offers insight into the use of steamers by local travelers along the Dalmatian Coast during the height of the steamer era.

A Closer Look

The view covers a portion of southern Croatia around Dubrovnik (Ragusa), including Cavtat, Zaton, Trsteno, Slano, and Ston. Cities (often with names in both Italian and Croatian), mountains, terrain, lighthouses/beacons, and other features are indicated, but the main focus is on the lines operated by the Obalna Paroplovidba. Five views surround the main view, including (clockwise from top-right) views of Ston Veliki and Ston Mali, the Tvrđava Lovrjenac (Lovrjenac Fortress), Dubrovnik, and the island of Mljet. The verso includes a city plan of Dubrovnik and a map of the city's immediate vicinity, including the port of Gruž, both liberally combining Italian and Croatian. Information on the frequency of ships and promoting the Dubrovačka Parobrodska Plovidba (of which Obalna Paroplovidba was likely a subsidiary) also appears in Croatian, Italian, German, French, and English, a reflection of the multicultural milieu of the Adriatic.

The Obalna Paroplovidba (Coastal Steamship Company)

This view was produced at the height of the steamer era, when local companies such as the Obalna Paroplovidba competed with larger international operators like Österreichischer Lloyd. A division of labor of sorts functioned between these companies, with the likes of Österreichischer Lloyd catering to elite clients traveling to the 'Austrian Riviera' along the Dalmatian Coast. Smaller operators like Obalna Paroplovidba handed much of the less-glamorous local traffic to nearby ports and islands. Obalna Paroplovidba maintained a close relationship with and was likely a subsidiary of the larger Dubrovačka Parobrodska Plovidba (Dubrovnik Steamship Navigation, also known as Ragusea). It appears to have been distinct from a similarly-named contemporary company, Obalna Paroplovidba Hum, based on the island of Korčuli.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography, sometimes called oleography, is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process uses multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Generally, a chromolithograph begins with a black base coat, on which subsequent colors are layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color can be 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 made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda.

Publication History and Census

This view was prepared by the Lithographic Institute of Theodor Bannwarth in Vienna for the Obalna Paroplovidba (Coastal Steamship Company). It is undated and could easily date to before the First World War. The only known institutional holding is at the National and University Library in Zagreb (Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica u Zagrebu), which dates it to c. 1920. No known market history.

Cartographer

Theodor Bannwarth (fl. c. 1882 - 1920) was a lithographic printer active in Vienna in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the founder and owner of the Lithographische Anstalt von Theodor Bannwarth. He primarily printed maps and technical drawings, partnering with prominent map publishers active in the Habsburg realms such as Artaria, Hölzel, and Hartleben, among others. His works included a wide variety of maps but a significant portion dealt with the Habsburg realms (Austria-Hungary) and Vienna itself, including maps of individual districts.   Further Details...

Condition

Good. A few splits on old fold lines, repaired on verso. Verso exhibits wear and discoloration from old (reversed) tape repairs. Slight loss at left center fold intersection - reinstated on verso. Some discoloration, upper left.

References

Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica u Zagrebu 912.43(497.5Dubrovnik).