1707 Homann Map of Poland-Lithuania, the Baltic States
PolandLithuania-homann-1707$750.00
Title
Regni Poloniae Magnique Ducatus Lithuaniae...
1707 (undated) 18.5 x 22.5 in (46.99 x 57.15 cm) 1 : 3000000
1707 (undated) 18.5 x 22.5 in (46.99 x 57.15 cm) 1 : 3000000
Description
A beautiful example of Johann Baptist Homann's 1707 map of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, covering most of Eastern Europe. One of the works that Homann engraved himself, this map was produced during a transition in the relative balance of power in the region, with Poland-Lithuania, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire waning, and Russia, Prussia, and Austria on the rise.
A Closer Look
The lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth are displayed, along with portions of neighboring territories belonging to the Russian and Ottoman Empires, as well as lands under the rule or influence of the Habsburgs. Homann amalgamated the dozens of small and micro territories of the German lands into 'Germaniae Pars.' Rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, settlements, and major fortifications (such as those at Lublin and Krakow) are indicated. An elaborate cartouche with the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth appears at the top-left. It is surmounted by a trio of beehives, issuing clouds of bees; these have long been a symbol of Lithuania.Ukraine
Kyiv is clearly noted, and Ukrania is named. It appears in the Polish-Lithuanian Voivodeship of Russia Rubra, Red Ruthenia; this is distinct from Muscovy, shown at the eastern limit of the map.Poland-Lithuania
The fortunes of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth changed quickly in the 17th-18th century, from a cultural and territorial peak in the early-mid 17th century to a period of crisis and instability. Rebellions and wars, especially with the Ottomans and Russians, sapped the country's finances and attention. The situation improved somewhat under the leadership of King John III Sobieski in the late 17th century, crowned by his decisive defeat of the Ottomans outside Vienna in 1683, but problems resurfaced after his death. In the following decades, both Poland-Lithuania and Sweden would decline as powers in northern and eastern Europe, to the benefit of Russia and Prussia.Publication History and Census
This is the first plate of this map. It was engraved by Homann (note the imprint in the lower right, 'Author Sculpsit') as early as 1702 for inclusion in his planned Neuer Atlas. This first plate remained in the Homann atlas until at least 1716. Probably in about 1726, a completely re-engraved second plate began to appear. It is easily identifiable by the elimination of the 'Author Sculpsit' and changes in decorative detail, but we observe no changes in the geography. That plate included the Imperial Privilege. The present example is from a 1710 edition of the Neuer Atlas. In its many editions, the map is well-represented in institutional collections, and versions of the map occasionally appear on the market. However, there is no complete census of individual states and plates, so the dating of these pieces is difficult to determine without examination of the maps themselves.Cartographer
Johann Baptist Homann (March 20, 1664 - July 1, 1724) was the most prominent and prolific map publisher of the 18th century. Homann was born in Oberkammlach, a small town near Kammlach, Bavaria, Germany. As a young man, Homann studied in a Jesuit school and nursed ambitions of becoming a Dominican priest. Nonetheless, he converted to Protestantism in 1687, when he was 23. It is not clear where he mastered engraving, but we believe it may have been in Amsterdam. Homann's earliest work we have identified is about 1689, and already exhibits a high degree of mastery. Around 1691, Homann moved to Nuremberg and registered as a notary. By this time, he was already making maps, and very good ones at that. He produced a map of the environs of Nürnberg in 1691/92, which suggests he was already a master engraver. Around 1693, Homann briefly relocated to Vienna, where he lived and studied printing and copper plate engraving until 1695. Until 1702, he worked in Nuremberg in the map trade under Jacob von Sandrart (1630 - 1708) and then David Funck (1642 - 1709). Afterward, he returned to Nuremberg, where, in 1702, he founded the commercial publishing firm that would bear his name. In the next five years, Homann produced hundreds of maps and developed a distinctive style characterized by heavy, detailed engraving, elaborate allegorical cartouche work, and vivid hand color. Due to the lower cost of printing in Germany, the Homann firm could undercut the dominant French and Dutch publishing houses while matching their diversity and quality. Despite copious output, Homann did not release his first major atlas until the 33-map Neuer Atlas of 1707, followed by a 60-map edition of 1710. By 1715, Homann's rising star caught the attention of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, who appointed him Imperial Cartographer. In the same year, he was also appointed a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Homann's prestigious title came with several significant advantages, including access to the most up-to-date cartographic information as well as the 'Privilege'. The Privilege was a type of early copyright offered to very few by the Holy Roman Emperor. Though less sophisticated than modern copyright legislation, the Privilege offered limited protection for several years. Most all J. B. Homann maps printed between 1715 and 1730 bear the inscription 'Cum Priviligio' or some variation. Following Homann's death in 1724, the firm's map plates and management passed to his son, Johann Christoph Homann (1703 - 1730). J. C. Homann, perhaps realizing that he would not long survive his father, stipulated in his will that the company would be inherited by his two head managers, Johann Georg Ebersberger (1695 - 1760) and Johann Michael Franz (1700 - 1761), and that it would publish only under the name 'Homann Heirs'. This designation, in various forms (Homannsche Heirs, Heritiers de Homann, Lat Homannianos Herod, Homannschen Erben, etc.) appears on maps from about 1731 onwards. The firm continued to publish maps in ever-diminishing quantities until the death of its last owner, Christoph Franz Fembo (1781 - 1848). More by this mapmaker...
Source
Homann, J. B., Neuer Atlas bestehend in einig curieusen Astronomischen Kuppren und vielen auserlesenen accuratensten Land-Charten über die Gantze Welt, (Nuremberg: Homann), 1710.
Homann's Neuer Atlas bestehend in einig curieusen Astronomischen Kuppren und vielen auserlesenen accuratensten Land-Charten über die Gantze Welt was first publihsed in 1707 with 33 maps. A second edition followed in 1710 with 60 maps. Subsequent editions followed until about 1730. The title page notes proudly that the atlas features measurements based on the 'Copernican principle of the moving sky', a truly state-of-the-art innovation for the period. Regardless of editions, collations of the atlas are inconsistent, with some examples having less, while others have more maps - a consequence of the fact that the map sheets were delivered loose, to be bound at the buyer's discretion, and so some buyers chose to omit maps they did not consider relevant, or add others they did. Between editions, the constituent maps, particularly of European regions, were regularly updated to reflect the most recent political events. The atlas continued to be published by Homann's son, J. C. Homann (1703 - 1730), and then by Homann Heirs. Most examples also feature a fine allegorical frontispiece with the title Atlas Novus Terrarum Orbis Imperia, regna et Status, which was used for multiple Homann atlases, including the Neuer Atlas and the Atlas Minor.
Condition
Very good. Old mounting on thick paper for binding; attractive original hand color. Printer's crease entering upper left and passing into image through cartouche. Centerfold reinforced at bottom.
References
Rumsey 9753.070. OCLC 633116747. Malinowski, H., The Malinowski Collection of Maps of Poland Part 1, #153.