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Description

With Cartouche Elegantly Finished in Gold

Finely colored example of Homann's map of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and a portion of Russia and the Ukraine, extending from the Oder to the Black Sea and Smolensko, centered on Vilna.

This is the second state of the map, from the third plate, first issued in 1729 and later updated with the date of 1739. Includes all of Poland and Prussia, along with Kiev, on the Dnieper.

Gorgeous allegorical cartouche and coat of arms.

Johann Baptist Homann Biography

Johann Baptist Homann (1663-1724) was a mapmaker who founded the famous Homann Heirs publishing company. He lived his entire life in Bavaria, particularly in Nuremberg. Initially, Johann trained to become a priest before converting to Protestantism and working as a notary.

In 1702, Johann founded a publishing house that specialized in engravings. The firm flourished, becoming the leading map publisher in Germany and an important entity in the European map market. In 1715, Johann was named Imperial Geographer to the Holy Roman Empire by Charles VI and made a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. Most importantly for his business, his reputation and contacts gained him imperial printing privileges which protected his publications and recommended him to customers. Johann is best known for this Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt, or the Grand Atlas of the World, published in 1716.

After Johann died in 1724, the business passed to his son, Christoph (1703-1730). Upon Christoph’s early death, the company passed to subsequent heirs, with the name of the company changing to Homann Erben, or Homann Heirs. The firm continued in business until 1848.