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Description

Iconic 20th Century Map of the History of Poland Celebrating The Rebirth of Polish Independence After World War I

Remarkably early 20th Century map of Poland, showing the cartographic evolution of the former Polish Kingdom from its formation in the 9th Century until 1770 (on the eve of the First Partition of Poland). Published in Warsaw, the map is the work of Józef Michał Bazewicz, a respected bookseller and cartographer, as both a celebration of Poland's history and rebirth as an independent state following the conclusion of World War I.

The map extends from the Gulf of Riga, in the north, down to the shores of the Black Sea in the south, and from Magdeburg, Germany, in the west, over to Tula, Russia, in the east. The evolution of Poland's history is overlayed on a modern topographical map of the region.

The map provides an overlay of historical and contemporary information. The traditional Polish historical voivodships are shown, as well as areas colored to show the regions controlled by various foreign powers up until the end of World War I.

The map illustrates the far reaching boundaries of the Kingdom of Poland, extending to all or part of 11 modern nations: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania, and at one time extended from the shores of the Baltic to the Black Sea. Dotted lines show the various historical territories and labels the dates under which the regions were controlled by the Kingdom of Poland.

The map is embellished with the coats of arms of the traditional Polish voivodships and military institutions. Four inserts give further details as to Poland's territorial evolution.

The map celebreates the rebirth of the Polish Republic, an event anticipated and fought for by Poles for nearly 150 years. The map is celebrated as one of the graphic icons of Poland's rebirth.

The mapmaker, Józef Michał Bazewicz (1867 - 1929) was a prominent Warsaw cartographer, writer and bookseller, and a leading figure on the cultural scene in the Polish capital during the first quarter of the 20th Century. While the present map is his most famous work, he issued many publications, including a historical atlas of Poland, Atlas historyczny Polski (Warsaw, 1916) and a popular patriotic tract, Prawdy historyczne, konieczności dziejowe i zadania Polski, z mapą Europy na przełomie wieków XIV i XV (Warsaw, 1921).

Condition Description
Minor wear along the folds.
Reference
Description drawn from the original by Dasa Pahor and Alex Johnson.