Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas: Original 18th Century Hand-colored Map by Bowen
This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Chart of The Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's; with the Archipelago & Part of the Black Sea. Exhibiting all the Islands in Those Seas as also Adjacent Countries on the Continents" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1748 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's and their adjacent countries and landmarks, as they were known in the mid 18th century. The map extends from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece, Turkey, The Dalmatian Coast including Croatia, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria in the north and the Barbary Coast in North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya (Kingdom of Tripoli), as well as Egypt and the Holy Land in the south.
Creator: Emanuel Bowen (1694 - 1767, British)
Creation Year: 1748
Dimensions: Height: 15.88 in (40.34 cm)
Width: 23.75 in (60.33 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Chart of The Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's; with the Archipelago & Part of the Black Sea. Exhibiting all the Islands in Those Seas as also Adjacent Countries on the Continents" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1748 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's and their adjacent countries and landmarks, as they were known in the mid 18th century. The map extends from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece, Turkey, The Dalmatian Coast including Croatia, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria in the north and the Barbary Coast in North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya (Kingdom of Tripoli), as well as Egypt and the Holy Land in the south.
Creator: Emanuel Bowen (1694 - 1767, British)
Creation Year: 1748
Dimensions: Height: 15.88 in (40.34 cm)
Width: 23.75 in (60.33 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Chart of The Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's; with the Archipelago & Part of the Black Sea. Exhibiting all the Islands in Those Seas as also Adjacent Countries on the Continents" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1748 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's and their adjacent countries and landmarks, as they were known in the mid 18th century. The map extends from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece, Turkey, The Dalmatian Coast including Croatia, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria in the north and the Barbary Coast in North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya (Kingdom of Tripoli), as well as Egypt and the Holy Land in the south.
Creator: Emanuel Bowen (1694 - 1767, British)
Creation Year: 1748
Dimensions: Height: 15.88 in (40.34 cm)
Width: 23.75 in (60.33 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
The map is embellished by a decorative title cartouche in the lower left and two Compass Roses with rhumb lines.
This striking and beautifully hand-colored original 18th century map is printed on laid chain-linked paper with wide upper and lower margins and a watermark. The sheet measures 15.88" high and 23.75" wide. There is a vertical center fold, as issued. There is a small chip at the edge of the lower margin, a smaller one at the edge of the right margin, a tiny spot in the upper margin and blunted upper right and lower left and right corners. The map is otherwise in very good condition.
Emanuel Bowen (1694-1767) was a prominent British engraver and cartographer. He was born in Wales and worked in London as a mapmaker and engraver for much of his career. Bowen was honored as a fellow of the Royal Society and as the Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of England and Louis XV of France. Based in London, Bowen was 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 some of the most prominent cartographic names of the period including Herman Moll, John Owen, and Thomas Kitchin. Bowen was known for his skill in combining information from various sources to create comprehensive and useful maps. Bowen produced a wide range of maps, including maps of the British Isles, Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. He also created maps for several important atlases, including the "Complete Atlas" (1752) and "A Complete System of Geography" (1747). Despite his renown and success, Bowen, like many cartographers, died in poverty. Upon Emanuel Bowen's death, his cartographic work was taken over by his son, Thomas Bowen who also died in poverty. Bowen's legacy as one of the most influential cartographers of the 18th century lives on through his many important maps and atlases.
