Antique Maps and Prints of Germany and Switzerland
Helvetia, wood cut map of Switzerland. From Sebastian Munster
Helvetia, wood cut map of Switzerland. From Sebastian Munster "Von dem Teutchen Lande", circa 1590. 13.5 x 8 cm, condition good. Price £98.00 /$158.00. Click for info

Around the year 1450 a most important event occurred. It was the invention of printing by Gutenberg. The success of the printing press was not immediate, after all there were very few people who could read.

The first outstanding landmark in German cartography was the printing of Ptolemy's Geographia in Ulm in 1482. A second edition was publised in 1486 and another one in Strassburg in 1513. However the list of authors selected for publication soon expanded. By 1480 there were 111 towns in Europe that had printing presses.

Nuremburg, a major cultural centre of Europe, became especially prominent in geographical sciences. Nuremberg's artisans (goldsmiths and metal workers) produced the best globes and finest compasses. She also boasted many scholars, like Regiomantus, Behaim, Schoner, Hirschvogel, Erhard Etzlaub, Albrecht Durer and others. In 1493 Hartmann Schedel published the Nuremberg Chronicle. This was a topographical and historical work, issued seven months after Columbus landed in the New world. These medieval books are called incunables. In the 13th century a German antiquarian book collector discovered a Roman road map which was from the year 3 A.D. This was dubbed the Peutinger Table, after its discoverer. The original is now in Vienna.

Martin Waldseemuller(1470-1518) first suggested the name America in his Cosmographia Introductio, 1507. Sebastian Munster (1489-1552) was a mathematician and linguist. He was a Professor of Hebrew and Greek at the University of Heidelberg, but settled in Basle. He produced the "Cosmographia" in 1544 and "Geographia". In these there were maps and illustrations of towns from all over the known world that Munster had asked to be sent to him bt cartographers, surveyors, etc.

Bohemia,Silesia,Moravia, and Lusace. Copper engraved map with historical descriptions, dated 1720.
Bohemia,Silesia,Moravia, and Lusace. Copper engraved map with historical descriptions, dated 1720. Price £160.00 /$260.00 Click for info

After the flowering of German mapmaking in the 16th century, there was something of a gap until the 18th century, when the Homan family, Johann Baptiste (1663-1724) and his son, Johann Christoph, started producing maps.

Maps were produced after Johann Christophe's death by his son-in-law under the name Homann Heirs.

Selected German & Swiss maps currently in stock

Lotharingiae, showing Luxembourg, Lorraine, Metz, Clermont, Chur, Trier, Pfaultz,Hesse, and others. Nicholas Visscher, Copper plate map, original hand colouring, engraved in Amsterdam circa 1710.

Lotharingiae, showing Luxembourg, Lorraine, Metz, Clermont, Chur, Trier, Pfaultz,Hesse, and others. Nicholas Visscher, Copper plate map, original hand colouring, engraved in Amsterdam circa 1710.

56.5 x 62 cm
Condition fair

£285.00 / $462.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Germany, showing its Ancient Circles and its present 39 States. Description of Battles, Sieges,  Commerce, Universities and more. Hand coloured engraved map intended for elucidation of Lavoisnes Historical Atlas, dated 1828.

Germany, showing its Ancient Circles and its present 39 States. Description of Battles, Sieges, Commerce, Universities and more. Hand coloured engraved map intended for elucidation of Lavoisnes Historical Atlas, dated 1828.

57 x 48 cm
Condition good

£95.00 / $154.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Rivers and Mountains (Fluss und Bergkarte ) of Germany and the Adjacent Countries. Stielers Hand Atlas. Detailed information on hight, elevation, and description of mountains by Adolf Stieler in 1820, corrected in 1857. Coloured map, published by Gotha; Justus Perthes in 1876.

Rivers and Mountains (Fluss und Bergkarte ) of Germany and the Adjacent Countries. Stielers Hand Atlas. Detailed information on hight, elevation, and description of mountains by Adolf Stieler in 1820, corrected in 1857. Coloured map, published by Gotha; Justus Perthes in 1876.

41 x 33 cm
Condition good

£48.00 / $75.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



German Empire, coloured map, circa 1880.

German Empire, coloured map, circa 1880.

30 x 23 cm
Condition good

£25.00 / $40.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Germania Antiqua. Cellarius, Copper plate engraving showing Germany at the time of the Romans. Engraved by R.W.Seale, c1776.

Germania Antiqua. Cellarius, Copper plate engraving showing Germany at the time of the Romans. Engraved by R.W.Seale, c1776.

31 x 20 cm
Condition good

Price £54.00 / $88.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top


Selected German & Swiss prints currently in stock


Berlin, The University. A Carse, steel engraving, Published by A.H.Payne, circa 1850.

Berlin,The University. A Carse, steel engraving, Published by A.H.Payne, circa 1850.

16.5 x 10.5 cm
Condition good.

Price £30.00 /$48.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Berlin, The Armoury. A Carse, steel engraving, engraved by T. Heawood, Published by A.H.Payne, circa 1850.

Berlin,The Armoury. A Carse, steel engraving, engraved by T. Heawood, Published by A.H.Payne, circa 1850.

16.5 x 10.5 cm
Condition good.

Price £30.00 /$48.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Berlin, Schiller-Platz. A.Deroy, wood engraving, circa 1875.

Berlin, Schiller-Platz. A.Deroy, wood engraving, circa 1875.

18.5 x 13 cm
Condition good.

Price £25.00 /$40.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Dresden, published by R.Bowyer. Aquatint, 1815.

Dresden, published by R.Bowyer. Aquatint, 1815.

33 x 23 cm
Condition good, except top right hand corner, not affecting the image, there are some paint spots

Price £85.00 /$138.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Magdeburg, the Capital of its Duchy in Lower Saxony. Copper plate engraving, 1793.

Magdeburg, the Capital of its Duchy in Lower Saxony. Copper plate engraving, 1793.

24 x 18 cm
Condition fair

£35.00 / $56.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



'Mayence' by Birket Foster. Steel engraving, hand coloured, circa 1840.

"Mayence" by Birket Foster. Steel engraving, hand coloured, circa 1840.

16.5 x 11.5 cm
Condition good

£38.00 / $62.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



The Cathedral at Worms, on the Rhine. S.Prout, steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by W.Wallis.   Published by Fisher 1845.

The Cathedral at Worms, on the Rhine. S.Prout, steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by W.Wallis. Published by Fisher 1845.

10.5 x 15 cm
Condition good

£38.00 / $62.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Kiel. Steel engraving,  engraved by J.Godfrey, Published by J.Virtue c 1850.

Kiel. Steel engraving, engraved by J.Godfrey, Published by J.Virtue c 1850.

20 x 14 cm
Condition good

£28.00 / $46.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Bellinzona (Canton Tessin). W.H.Bartlett, steel engraving, The effect by T. Creswick, engraved by J.Smith, Published by Virtue 1835.

Bellinzona (Canton Tessin). W.H.Bartlett, steel engraving, The effect by T. Creswick, engraved by J.Smith, Published by Virtue 1835.

18.5 x 12 cm
Condition good

£38.00 / $62.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Children of Berlin Westend, Ball Game, The English Marine. Honeymoon in Switzerland, C.W.Allers, Collotype dated 1889.Published by F.& P. Lehmann, Berlin.

Children of Berlin Westend, Ball Game, The English Marine. Honeymoon in Switzerland, C.W.Allers, Collotype dated 1889.Published by F.& P. Lehmann, Berlin.

18.5 x 25cm
Condition good

£45.00 / $73.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Honeymoon in Switzerland, C.W.Allers, Collotype dated 1889, showing Sketches of the the Saturday market at Thun, and a girl of the Canton Bern.Published by F.& P. Lehmann, Berlin.

Honeymoon in Switzerland, C.W.Allers, Collotype dated 1889, showing Sketches of the the Saturday market at Thun, and a girl of the Canton Bern.Published by F.& P. Lehmann, Berlin.

25 x 19cm
Condition good

£45.00 / $73.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Basle, by S. Prout. Steel engraving, hand coloured, 1845.

Basle, by S. Prout. Steel engraving, hand coloured, 1845.

15 x 11 cm
Condition good

£42.00 / $68.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Grindelwald. Drawn by J.S. Cooper, Steel engraving, published by Fullerton, c. 1840.

Grindelwald. Drawn by J.S.Cooper, Steel engraving, published by Fullerton, c. 1840.

13.5 x 9 cm
Condition good

£35.00 / $56.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Lausanne. Drawn by Copley Fielding, Steel engraving, published by J.Murray, 1832.

Lausanne. Drawn by Copley Fielding, Steel engraving, published by J.Murray, 1832.

13 x 9 cm
Condition good

£38.00 / $62.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Martigny. Drawn by J.D.Harding, Steel engraving, published by J.Murray, 1833.

Martigny. Drawn by J.D.Harding, Steel engraving, published by J.Murray, 1833.

13 x 9 cm
Condition good

£35.00 / $56.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Thun. T.S.Cooper, Steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by Finden, published by J.Murray, 1833.

Thun. T.S.Cooper, Steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by Finden, published by J.Murray, 1833.

13 x 9 cm
Condition fair

£30.00 / $48.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



Mount Cervin from near Stalden. W.H. Bartlett, Steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by H.Adlard, published by George Virtue, 1836.

Mount Cervin from near Stalden. W.H. Bartlett, Steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by H.Adlard, published by George Virtue, 1836.

17 x 11.5 cm
Condition good

£30.00 / $48.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



The Summit of the Jungfrau. W.H. Bartlett, Steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by W.Taylor, published by George Virtue, 1836.

The Summit of the Jungfrau. W.H. Bartlett, Steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by W.Taylor, published by George Virtue, 1836.

17.5 x 12 cm
Condition good

£35.00 / $56.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top



View of the Baths of Leuk in Vallais, showing small bridge suspended by chains, a small Lake called Daube, Sentinels and Baths. Copper plate engraving from London magazine 1778.

View of the Baths of Leuk in Vallais, showing small bridge suspended by chains, a small Lake called Daube, Sentinels and Baths. Copper plate engraving from London magazine 1778.

9 x 16 cm
Condition good

£32.00 / $52.00
(plus packing and postage)

Click for info

Back to top