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1747 Bowen Map of Bohemia and Southeastern Germany (Bavaria and Salzburg)
GermanySE-bowen-1747$112.50
Title
A New & Accurate Map of the South East part of Germany, containing the Electorate of Bavaria, A.Bp. of Saltzburg, K. of Bohemia, with the Queen of Hungary's Hereditary Dominions of Austria, Moravia, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Trent, Tirol. etc.
1747 (undated) 13 x 9.5 in (33.02 x 24.13 cm) 1 : 2650000
1747 (undated) 13 x 9.5 in (33.02 x 24.13 cm) 1 : 2650000
Description
This is a beautiful 1747 map of the southeastern part of Germany and the Czech Republic by the British cartographer Emanuel Bowen. It includes the Kingdom of Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic), the Archbishopric of Saltzburg, and the Electorate of Bavaria. Centered on the Danube River, the map covers the modern day countries of Germany, Czech Republic and Austria from Dresden in the north to the Gulf of Venice in the South and from Salzburg in the west to Vienna in the East. Major cities including Prague, Brinn (Brno), Drasden (Dresden), Vienna, Olmutz (Olomouc), Saltzburg (Salzburg), Gratz (Graz) and several others are identified. Rivers, roads, lakes and other topography is also noted throughout, with mountains beautifully rendered in profile.
Prior to the French Revolutionary War and the Congress of Vienna, the Holy Roman Empire's Circle of Bavaria included the Archbishopric of Salzburg, and was bordered by Franconia, Bohemia, Swabia, and Austria. After several wars with, and occupation by, Austria, the old Bavarian elector Max III Joseph died, leaving Bavaria and the electoral Palatinate to be governed once again in personal union. The Napoleonic Wars dissolved the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, briefly making Bavaria an independent kingdom and doubling its size, until Germany consolidated in 1871.
This map includes a beautifully illustrated title cartouche in the upper left quadrant. This map was prepared by Emanuel Bowen as plate no. 17 for the 1747 issue of A Complete System of Geography.
Prior to the French Revolutionary War and the Congress of Vienna, the Holy Roman Empire's Circle of Bavaria included the Archbishopric of Salzburg, and was bordered by Franconia, Bohemia, Swabia, and Austria. After several wars with, and occupation by, Austria, the old Bavarian elector Max III Joseph died, leaving Bavaria and the electoral Palatinate to be governed once again in personal union. The Napoleonic Wars dissolved the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, briefly making Bavaria an independent kingdom and doubling its size, until Germany consolidated in 1871.
This map includes a beautifully illustrated title cartouche in the upper left quadrant. This map was prepared by Emanuel Bowen as plate no. 17 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. More by this mapmaker...
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. Blank on verso. Original platemark visible.
References
Rumsey 3733.016. Philips (atlases) 614 (1752 edition).