Historic Map : Perthes Antique Map of Southwestern Germany and Switzerland, 1853, Vintage Wall Art

Historic Map : Perthes Antique Map of Southwestern Germany and Switzerland, 1853, Vintage Wall ArtA fascinating example of the 1853 map of southwestern Germany including Switzerland by Justus Perthes. This map covers the 19th century German provinces of Bavaria, Wurttemberg, and Baden. Also covers Switzerland. In 1848 the March Revolution swept through europe, in particular Germany. These Revolutions were nationalist pro German, pan German, declarations of discontent with the archaic autocratic political structure that dated to the 39 original

A fascinating example of the 1853 map of southwestern Germany including Switzerland by Justus Perthes. This map covers the 19th century German provinces of Bavaria, Wurttemberg, and Baden. Also covers Switzerland.

In 1848 the March Revolution swept through europe, in particular Germany. These Revolutions were nationalist pro-German, pan-German, declarations of discontent with the archaic autocratic political structure that dated to the 39 original German states established under the Holy Roman empire. The years following the violent suppression of the March Revolution saw a vast middle class exodus from the German states to the United States, leading to 'Germantown USA,' and popular interest among Americans in the Fatherland.

Switzerland at this time was undergoing a rapid social and economic change known as the Regeneration Movement. Following the French July Revolution in 1830 the Swiss began assemble and call for fair representation and new cantonal constitutions. Many of the cantons subsequently established representative governments and instituted freedom of the press and trade.

Throughout, the map identifies various cities, towns, rivers and assortment of additional topographical details. Political and regional borders are highlighted in outline color. Unlike other cartographic publishers of the period, the Justus Perthes firm did not transition to lithographic printing techniques. Instead, all of their maps are copper plate engravings and hence offer a level of character and depth of detail that was impossible to find in lithography or wain x-process engraving. All text is in German. Issued as plate no. 24 in the 1854 edition of Stieler's Hand-Atlas.