[Plate] Hermelin, S. G.
Götarike [half title to] Geografiske Kartor öfver Swerige utgifne af Friherre S. G. Hermelin (..)
Stockholm. 1807. Folio 65 x 42 cm.
A crease across the upper half of the leaf. Browning along the edges of the sheet. A couple of stains and a 3,5 cm tear to the upper margin.
This is the half title to Götarike belonging to Samuel Gustav Hermelins atlas of Sweden and Finland "Geografiske Kartor öfver Swerige", which was the first comprehensive mapping of these countries. Götarike contains the southern provinces of Sweden. An earlier cartographic attempt by "Kongl. Landtmäteri Contoiret" in the 18th century did not manage to cover the entire country. 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: 583
