1803 J Blair Map of Ancient Greece Crete W Turkey Classical & Hellenistic Period

Description: Graecia Antiqua drawn by Thomas Kitchin, from John Blair’s, “The Chronology and History of the World,” published in London, 1803. Large format copper engraved map on heavy watermarked paper, uncolored as issued, with plate mark and wide margins and title set in a fancy cartouche. Latin text. Map size: 16 1/2 x 22 1/4 inches (neatlines) on sheet 18 3/8 x 25 7/8 inches. Scale not given. Undated but drawn circa late-1700s and printed in 1803. Condition: Faint age toning overall with two vertical fold lines, as made, for containing the map inside the book (earlier printings of the map were bound into the book using a glued stub resulting in a centerfold, often with an attendant toning band associated with aging of the glue. This example was bound in at the left edge without glue thus no toning band). Some very faint offsetting is present in the center and left panels noticeable mainly in blank areas with an ink spot or two present in the blank margins. A nice, clean example of this interesting map based on a late 18th century understanding of ancient history and geography. The map shows all of Greece, Crete, and western Turkey by major geographic regions divided into smaller geographic boundaries occupied by city-states, ancient peoples, and similar groupings. As such, the map focuses mainly on the golden age of ancient Greece during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Geographic divisions are shown using a network of dotted lines with travel and trade routes marked with solid lines. The map shows mountains, rivers, lakes, travel and trade routes, and innumerable cities, villages, and other place names, which lend a rich and complex depiction to the country. Major cities are marked with special symbols while lesser places are marked with circles. First published in 1754, John Blair’s “Chronology” was a popular resource for dating and summarizing important historical events from biblical, classical and modern (to date of publication) sources. It is important to remember that, prior to and including the early Enlightenment, study of classical antiquity and “dead languages” were a foundational part of an advanced education in Western Civilization, as science, engineering, mathematics, etc. were yet to evolve. His “Chronology” went through many editions well into the 19th century with maps added in the 1768 and later editions to help illustrate lands covered by the work, both ancient and modern. Through the years, most maps show little or no revision between the various editions, especially the ancient maps, but modest revisions were made to the modern maps, particularly in light of major discoveries and political change, as reflected in the map of North America after the American Revolution, and world hemispheres map after the last global voyage of Captain Cook.

Price: 195 USD

Location: Denver, Colorado

End Time: 2024-12-17T01:51:45.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10 USD