"A New & Exact Map of Germany Corrected According to the Newest Observations", Willdey, George

This large, handsome, and rare map is derived from John Senex's Germany Corrected from the Observations of the Royal Society at London and the Royal Academy at Paris (1710). It focuses primarily on Germany, but spans from London east to Warsaw, extending to include the Low Countries (divided into the VII United Provinces and the Spanish Provinces), present-day Czechia, Switzerland, Austria, and parts of Hungary and Poland. There are numerous towns and cities, political divisions, rivers, mountains, and more. A double line delineates the famous travels of Dr. Edward Browne from Norwich through Germany. The elaborate title cartouche at bottom left features angels, putti, and river gods. There are ten distance scales at right. Engraved by H. Terasson. Printed on two sheets, joined.

This map was published by George Willdey, a merchant who sold maps in addition to a variety of luxury goods, toys, optical instruments, and more. (This excerpt from the colorful advertisement at top right gives a flavor of his business: "You may also be furnished with all sorts of French and Dutch Maps & Prints at the most reasonable prises with all sorts of Spectacles, Reading-Glasses, Telescopes Perspective Glasses and whatever is curious in this kind Note he Defies all ye Artists in ye Universe to exceed him in this particular No Person hath more or better Choyce or more reasonable all which are sold by George Willdey at the Corner House in Ludgate Street next St. Pauls Church.") Willdey purchased plates (including the surviving plates for Saxton's county maps) and worked with mapmakers such as Charles Price. His maps and made-to-order composite atlases are exceedingly hard to find on the market today.

References: Rumsey #13539.014.

Condition: B

A crisp impression with contemporary outline color in the map and later color in the cartouche. There is light soiling, a bit of toning along the folds, and some separations that have been closed on verso with old tape.