Military atlas collection with 88 copper engraved maps in old coloring
Printed by J.B. Homann, Homanns Erben, Matthäus Seutter and others, Nuremberg and Augsburg, between 1700 and 1825
Comprehensive hand-written explanations, charts and plans regarding battles, marches, sieges, war ships and losses, covering the years between 1715 and 1806
Appendix with manuscripts from the collection of captain Bernard zu Osopo about the siege of the fortress Hamburg
Maps of the world, of continents, of Europe and several city views
Addition: index volume with all maps, plans, notes and historic notes from 1838
Blind-tooled contemporary leather binding
Dimensions of imperial folio volume: 55 x 35.5 x 7 cm
Good condition
This unique military atlas of museum quality is an outstanding contemporary document of military history
Object is regular taxed. The 7% VAT of the hammer price will be taken off the bill.

This individually compiled military atlas with scores of hand-written additions is a unique document of military history. It contains a comprehensive appendix of manuscripts by the captain Bernard zu Osopo and was kept by sergeant Dühn, the register is dated 1838.

This comprehensive atlas is also quite interesting from a cartographic perspective: it contains a large and a small world map, maps of Asia, Africa, America, Europe by Homann as well as many European detail maps of Italy, Greece, France, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Russia and the Balkan. Among the scores of layout plans and special military maps, 58 were made by cartographic institute of Johann Baptist Homann as well as eight maps by Matthäus Seutter and other renowned cartographers of the time.

More than 30 maps carry hand-written explanations, charts and plans of troop movements, marshes, battle arrays, sieges, losses, military and economic figures, rulers, as well as other kinds of military-historical information from the period between 1715 and 1806.

The numerous entries on the maps and in the appendices, as well as the overall state of preservation show that this atlas must have been in frequent use, also at sea, as it contains information on fleets and war ships. Verso of a map of France with a 'Verzeichnis der Posten eines französischen Kriegs Schiffs von 72 Canonen' (register of items of a French battle ship with 72 canons) with specific information on all salary classes and a neatly kept list of individual salaries of crew members: from the 'Stabs Officiers' (field officers), 'Schiffs Officiers' (navy officesr) down to the 'Bots-Knechten' (boatmen), 'Bedienten' (servants), 'Soldaten' (soldiers) and 'Schiffs-Jungen' (cabin boys). 'Besoldung und Löhnung erträgt' (salary and wages amount to) a total of '7337,10 livres' as well as with information regarding provisions on board 'Die Rations 5616 livres', followed by a meticulously kept chart of exact dates of the English fleet. '„Beim Antritt George II. Regierung bestund die Englische Flotte 1727 … Schiffe, Bomb. Gallionen, Magazin, Chaluppen…'.

Records regarding the army 'Repartition des Trouppes de la Reine de Hongrie et de Bohème, dans Les Pays Bas pour l’hyver 1743/1744', travel diagrams and an exact list of the sojourns 'Route que S. Majesté La Reine de Sardaigne Princesse Elizabeth Thérèse de Lorraine a prise de Luneville jusqu’à Chambery en Savoye au Mois d’Avril 1737', a 'March Route so die Kettlerische zu unserem Regiment zugetheilten Luxemburg biß Brüssel gehalten haben', marching routes, battle arrays 'Orde de Bataille de l’Armée Pragmatic en Flandre au Camp D’Estainbourg Le 6me Août 1744“(with colored sketches)' and numerous hand-written records regarding the Austrian War of Succession in 1732 and 1743-44.

What is of particular interest for the history of the town of Hamburg is a collection of hand-written documents in the appendix, with, among others, 'Correspondenz des Senats mit dem Kaiserlichen Reichsfeldmarschalls' and a 'Gutachtens wegen Contigentsstellung', a hand-written copy, dated 17 June, 1794 of an expertise of the costs of city's defense, as well as numerous further documents.

Besides its cartographic value, the atlas is an unusually rich, authentic and important historical source of information about countries, armies, fleets, battles and town defenses of the 18th and 19th century, that is unparalleled.

With an attached index with all maps, plans, notes and historic notes from 1838. German manuscript on paper. 18 leaves with writing. Green brochure with hand-written title label.

A detailed list of all maps and the bound in documents will be furnished on request.

Condition

In good condition with traces of use, however, definitely worthwhile collecting. Some maps with finger-stained and stained margins, with isolated water stains. With hand-written entries on some of the maps (America with entry regarding Columbus). Most maps with comprehensive hand-written notes. Homann world map with rebacked blemish in upper gutter and with two restored splits. Both maps of the town of Halle (74&75) with restored corner tear without loss of image. Else with isolated small restored splits, marginal defects or blemishes.

Binding

Blind-tooled contemporary leather binding. Rectangular and diagonal blind-tooled lines and ornamental embossing stamps. Spine renewed using the original gilt-tooled leather. The original cardboard binding had been completely used up. In order to protect the content and to give it a proper safekeeping, the atlas was bound in an appealing leather binding at around 1750, which made for the appropriate splendor. Six raised bands. In very good condition. Binding firm and stable. Boards somewhat rubbed and scraped and with fine patina. Pastedowns with remains of an old seal. Dimensions of imperial folio volume: 55 x 35.5 x 7 cm.

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.