1919 Chromolithograph Map of Sofia, Bulgaria

This is a striking 1919 Alexander Petrov chromolithograph Map of Sofia, Bulgaria, issued at the end of World War I (1914 - 1918). The cartography here roughly corresponds to the Amadier Plan, a bold re-envisioning of Sophia, not only as a national capital, but also as a modern European city - rejecting nearly 500 years of Ottomanization. Bold chromolithograph color defines various neighborhoods, with important buildings indexed numerically. All text is in Bulgarian and French.

National Identity

This map emerged as Bulgaria, having been a Central Power and thus on the losing side of World War I, was struggling with low national moral, staggering war indemnities, and a refugee crisis that threatened Bulgarian identity. The map is a lavish production meant to invoke national and local pride. It was issued through a sophisticated multi-color chromolithograph with gilding to set off the armorial lines it the corners and the Sofia city crest at top center.

Throwing off Ottoman Rule

Sofia is an ancient city, most likely the oldest in Europe with evidence suggesting it was occupied during the Stone Age. Sofia came under the control of the Ottoman Empire in 1382, and in the course of the subsequent centuries, evolved into an Ottoman-style city. The Russo-Turkish War (1877 - 1878) left the Ottoman Empire unable to fully control its rebellious European provinces. The 1878 Treaty of San Stefano declared Sofia the capital of a revived Christian Bulgarian state.

Reasserting Sofia's Europeanism

After nearly 500 years of Ottoman rule, Bulgarians were eager to shed 500 year of 'oriental' influence and turn Sofia into to western-style modern European capital. The city was completely redesigned according to a regulatory plan devised by S. Amadier and Vladimir Roubal in 1879. The winding streets and dead-end courtyards, born of the Ottoman Mahallah system, were replaced with an orthogonal street network (akin to Washington D.C), and a regular grid cadestre. The main boulevards were aligned with the ancient trade arteries that defined Sofia in the Classical Era. The heart of the of the orthogonal center is thus situated at Sv. Nedelya Church, just south of the old Ottoman center, and roughly in the same location as the ancient Roman Forum. Cardinal boulevards followed ancient trade connections active in the pre-Ottoman era, leading in the directions of Thessaloniki, Pautalia (Kyustendil), Germanea (Separeva Banya), Trimontium (Plovdiv), and Nansos (Nis).

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired product. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it emerged as the dominate method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This map was published in 1919 by Alexander Petrov (Александър Петров) in 1919. It is one of the earliest obtainable plans of Sofia issued after World War I - thus of modern Sofia. The map is rare. We note a single example in the OCLC, located at the University of Oxford Libraries. The map has at least once appeared on the private market in the last 15 years.