1747 Bowen Map of Poland and Lithuania

This is a beautiful 1747 map of Poland and Lithuania by the British cartographer Emanuel Bowen. It depicts the different Palatinates or administrative divisions of Poland and Lithuania as well as parts of Germany, the Russian Empire, Hungary, Transylvania, and Latvia. Several important towns, rivers, roads, cities and other topographic features are noted, with mountains rendered in profile. The map is color coded according to the Palatinates. A beautifully illustrated title cartouche is included in the lower left quadrant of the map. This map was prepared by Emanuel Bowen as plate no. 29 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.   Further Details...

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. Minor wear and toning along original fold lines. Dampstains along outer margin, not extending onto printed area. Minor offsetting. Blank on verso.

References

Rumsey 3733.028. Philips (atlases) 614 (1752 edition).