This copy is copyright protected.
Copyright © 2024 Geographicus Rare Antique Maps
1716 Homann Diagram of a Warship and its Equipment
Kriegsschiff-homann-1716$1,800.00
Title
Neue Tafel vor alle Liebhabers und see-fahrende Personen Stellet vor ein Orlog oder Kriegs-Schiff mit seinen volligen Two od Seil Werk Sampt einen Durchgeschnittnen Schiff, auch Vor und Hindertheil Desgleichen Booten, Chaloupen un Schiff-Heber, nebst noch mehr anderer Schiffs Gereth-Schafft und zugehörungen.
1716 (undated) 19.25 x 22.25 in (48.895 x 56.515 cm)
1716 (undated) 19.25 x 22.25 in (48.895 x 56.515 cm)
Description
This is a fascinating 1716 J. B. Homann diagram of a three-masted, 96-gun Man-o'-War - the workhorse warship of 18th-century European navies. Such ships, also called Ships of the Line, dominated the recently-ended War of Spanish Succession (1701 - 1714), making this diagram a subject of great interest to the educated European populace.
To the left is a rundown of a typical crew-list, naming 24 essential positions, some of whom could have multiple representatives on a large Man-o'-War. Two detailed vignettes of the bow include a proud leo-form masthead - a popular figurehead, particularly on English Ships of the Line.
Perhaps more fascinating is the cross-section dominating the lower part of the chart. Here, Homann offers insight into both the size and operation of such a vessel, naming specialized chambers dedicated to everything from bunks to cable storage to the 'Pis-Pack,' presumably a latrine.
Surrounding the main images are illustrations of escort ships, nautical instruments, and more. Of some interest is the Kameel oder Schiff-Hever, which appears to the left of the cross-section. This ingenious device was used to reduce the draft of large sailing ships in heavily silted harbors, particularly in the Netherlands.
A Closer Look
The central images offer profile and cross-seciton views of the Man-o’-War. The upper rendering details the ship's construction, profile, and rigging, with at least 36 types of lines named and located. The numbers correlate to an index below the bottom border.To the left is a rundown of a typical crew-list, naming 24 essential positions, some of whom could have multiple representatives on a large Man-o'-War. Two detailed vignettes of the bow include a proud leo-form masthead - a popular figurehead, particularly on English Ships of the Line.
Perhaps more fascinating is the cross-section dominating the lower part of the chart. Here, Homann offers insight into both the size and operation of such a vessel, naming specialized chambers dedicated to everything from bunks to cable storage to the 'Pis-Pack,' presumably a latrine.
Surrounding the main images are illustrations of escort ships, nautical instruments, and more. Of some interest is the Kameel oder Schiff-Hever, which appears to the left of the cross-section. This ingenious device was used to reduce the draft of large sailing ships in heavily silted harbors, particularly in the Netherlands.
Man-o’-War
The Man-o'-War warship in the 1700s was a powerful and heavily armed naval vessel that dominated European seas during the Age of Sail. These ships were typically equipped with multiple decks and could carry between 50 to 120 cannons, making them the backbone of the world's most powerful navies, including the British, French, and Spanish fleets. Man-o'-War ships were designed for battle, with broadside cannons capable of devastating enemy ships during engagements. Their size and firepower made them essential for controlling maritime trade routes, projecting naval power, and participating in large-scale naval battles, such as those during the War of Spanish Succession (1701 - 1714) and the Seven Years' War (1756 - 1763). These ships were often crewed by hundreds of sailors and marines, and their masts could carry vast sails, allowing them to harness the wind for both maneuverability and speed. The Man-o'-War remained a symbol of naval dominance until the advent of steam-powered ships in the 19th century, which gradually rendered them obsolete.Publication History and Census
This piece was first compiled Johann Baptist Homann before 1715. It was updated with his privilege at top center in a second edition in 1716. Examples bearing the privilege, as here, are scarce, perhaps representing a small print run.Cartographer
Johann Baptist Homann (March 20, 1664 - July 1, 1724) was the most prominent and prolific map publisher of the 18th century. Homann was born in Oberkammlach, a small town near Kammlach, Bavaria, Germany. As a young man, Homann studied in a Jesuit school and nursed ambitions of becoming a Dominican priest. Nonetheless, he converted to Protestantism in 1687, when he was 23. It is not clear where he mastered engraving, but we believe it may have been in Amsterdam. Homann's earliest work we have identified is about 1689, and already exhibits a high degree of mastery. Around 1691, Homann moved to Nuremberg and registered as a notary. By this time, he was already making maps, and very good ones at that. He produced a map of the environs of Nürnberg in 1691/92, which suggests he was already a master engraver. Around 1693, Homann briefly relocated to Vienna, where he lived and studied printing and copper plate engraving until 1695. Until 1702, he worked in Nuremberg in the map trade under Jacob von Sandrart (1630 - 1708) and then David Funck (1642 - 1709). Afterward, he returned to Nuremberg, where, in 1702, he founded the commercial publishing firm that would bear his name. In the next five years, Homann produced hundreds of maps and developed a distinctive style characterized by heavy, detailed engraving, elaborate allegorical cartouche work, and vivid hand color. Due to the lower cost of printing in Germany, the Homann firm could undercut the dominant French and Dutch publishing houses while matching their diversity and quality. By 1715, Homann's rising star caught the attention of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, who appointed him Imperial Cartographer. In the same year, he was also appointed a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Homann's prestigious title came with several significant advantages, including access to the most up-to-date cartographic information as well as the 'Privilege'. The Privilege was a type of early copyright offered to very few by the Holy Roman Emperor. Though less sophisticated than modern copyright legislation, the Privilege offered limited protection for several years. Most all J. B. Homann maps printed between 1715 and 1730 bear the inscription 'Cum Priviligio' or some variation. Following Homann's death in 1724, the firm's map plates and management passed to his son, Johann Christoph Homann (1703 - 1730). J. C. Homann, perhaps realizing that he would not long survive his father, stipulated in his will that the company would be inherited by his two head managers, Johann Georg Ebersberger (1695 - 1760) and Johann Michael Franz (1700 - 1761), and that it would publish only under the name 'Homann Heirs'. This designation, in various forms (Homannsche Heirs, Heritiers de Homann, Lat Homannianos Herod, Homannschen Erben, etc.) appears on maps from about 1731 onwards. The firm continued to publish maps in ever-diminishing quantities until the death of its last owner, Christoph Franz Fembo (1781 - 1848). More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Very good. Wear along original centerfold.