[Plate] Hermelin, S. G.
De Norra Landsorter [half title to] Geographiske chartor öfver Swerige (..)
Stockholm. 1797. Folio 64,5 x 41,5 cm.
Some staining and browning to the margins.
This is the beautiful half title to the first part of Samuel Gustav Hermelins atlas of Sweden and Finland "Geografiske Kartor öfver Swerige", covering the northern sections of Sweden. It has spectacular image of a waterfall in the centre, engraved by Fredrik Akrel, a very skilled and productive engraver who later became director of Anders Åkermans globe construction shop. Hermelins atlas was the first comprehensive mapping of Sweden and Finland. An earlier attempt by "Kongl. Landtmäteri Contoiret" in the 18th century, did not manage to cover the entire country. Samuel Gustav Hermelin launched his major cartographic undertaking as a private citizen. Unfortunately he suffered substantial economic loss. Due to economic difficulties the work, in its later stages, was continued by "Geographisk Inrättning", a private company before the government bought the plates, and the rights, to the work in the 1820s. The atlas was published 1796-1818. The finnish part of the atlas was produced a few years before Sweden lost Finland to Russia.
Item No: 581
