"Nieuwe Kaart van Europa", Emrik & Binger

Satirical political maps appear throughout cartographic history and gained popularity in the latter part of the nineteenth century at the time of the Franco-Prussian War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War. This humorous map presents Europe with each of its countries in caricature. It is a Dutch version of the Hadol-Goggins map. France is an old man attempting to draw his sword to protect himself from Prussia, a fat Bismarckian figure, squashing Austria under his knee and grasping the Netherlands and Belgium in his hand. England and Scotland are portrayed as an old woman walking her dog (Ireland) and turning her back on Europe. A Spanish senorita naps on a kneeling Portugal, while Turkey, in the guise of a harem girl smokes a hookah. The figure of Garibaldi represents Italy, his head and shoulders protected from Prussian encroachment by the shelter of a Swiss roof. Norway and Sweden take the form of a sheep, and Russia is an ogre hoping to fill his basket. These political cartoon maps are now quite rare, due to their ephemeral nature.

References: cf Tooley (MCC-1) #75-79.

Condition: A

There are some old paper repairs in the wide margins, not affecting image.