1815 Thomson Map of Spain and Portugal

A hand-colored 1815 map of Spain and Portugal by John Thomson, published in his New General Atlas. It depicts the kingdoms at the tail end of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815), namely the Peninsular War, which was devastating both to Iberia and to both countries' control of their overseas empires.

A Closer Look

This fascinating map is beautifully engraved in the minimalist English style pioneered in the early part of the 19th century. It includes both countries in full, with Spain being divided into its various semi-autonomous provinces. The Balearic Islands of Minorca, Majorca, and Ibiza are prominent in the upper right. Relief is shown by hachure with towns, cities, roads, waterways (including the Imperial Canal of Aragon), and major topographical features identified.

Historical Context

This map was produced at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Spain had initially sided against Napoleon's France in the conflicts at the start of the 19th-century, but France's much larger and superior army forced Charles IV to switch sides and align with Napoleon. However, Spain and France's loss at the Battle of Trafalgar and a clumsy invasion and occupation of Portugal in 1807 led Spain seek autonomy from Napoleon, resulting in a French invasion in 1808. Much of Iberia was occupied by French troops, but several cities and regions held out, while uprisings occurred in others and guerillas constantly harassed French troops, making it a costly disruption for Napoleon, whose main focus was elsewhere. British troops under Arthur Wellesley landed in Portugal in 1808 and began a grinding but ultimately successful campaign to wrest control of Iberia from France. By 1815, Spain and Portugal were liberated, but economically and demographically devastated. Their overseas empires had seen the rise of powerful independence movements, most of which could not be defeated in counter-revolutionary conflicts in the following years.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by John Thomson and engraved by John and George Menzies for inclusion in Thomson's New General Atlas, which went through multiple printings in both Dublin and Edinburgh. Examples of the map display different pagination (or none at all) and other minor details (such as the inclusion of Menzies brothers' names below the title here) depending on the printing, with the plate number here (No. 23) seemingly added separately from the main plate, different from another example previously sold by us as well as that held by the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection.