1747 Bowen Map of Sweden and Finland

This is an attractive 1747 map of Sweden by the British cartographer Emanuel Bowen. It covers Sweden and Finland (shown as part of Sweden) as well as parts of modern day Estonia, Latvia, Denmark and Poland. It notes several important towns, cities, rivers, roads and other topographic features. The map is color coded according to provinces and mountains are beautifully rendered in profile.

The map makes reference to the Treaty of Abo or the Treaty of Turku, a peace treaty between Sweden and the Russian Empire following the Russo-Swedish war of 1743, in which Sweden ceded the province of Kymengard and the fortress of Nyslot to Russia.

The amp also includes a beautifully illustrated title cartouche in the lower right quadrant. This map was prepared by Emanuel Bowen as plate no. 27 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. Original platemark visible. Blank on verso.

References

Rumsey 3733.026. Philips (atlases) 614 (1752 edition).