Map of Halle with Cartouche

Map of Halle with Cartouche

Darstellung des Grundrisses und Prospectes der Königl. Preußisch-Magdeburgischen und des Saal-Crayses Haupt Stadt HALLE, welcher daselbst Kosten und Verlag Iohann Baptistae Homanna der Röm. Kays. Mai. Geographi und Mitglids der Königl. Preuss Societät der Wißenschaffte, ist ausgemeßen und Geometrice verzeichnet worden von I.C Homann der Medicin und Mathematic Studioso zufinden in Nürnberg bey dem Authore.

This map of Halle is believed to be a later state of another map of Halle held in Carleton’s Special Collections. Published by the Homann firm in Nuremberg, this map depicts the town of Halle from above, as well as a profile view, two internal factory views, and a view of a lecture hall. 

While this map is from the same copper plate as the other map of Halle, a large cartouche in the upper right corner indicates that it was added to at a later time. The plates created in the process of copper engraving, while reusable for periods of time, require re-engraving as the ink makes the carved lines too shallow to print correctly. This re-engraving process was common within the Homann firm, especially with maps that were frequently printed, like the maps of Germany. However, the process of re-engraving does indicate that there was an opportunity for the firm to add the cartouche to this map, therefore making a new state of the engraving. 

The cartouche indicates the map's dedication to Christian Wolff (1679-1754), a German enlightenment philosopher and resident of Halle. It is not yet known whether Wolff personally commissioned this map or whether it was an honorary dedication within a larger Atlas, however the cartouche’s inclusion does indicate a level of commitment to enlightenment ideals from the Homann firm. Surrounding the dedication are navigational tools and cartographical imagery, including two globes, an astrolabe, books, a compass, and a ruler. Cartouches often served as visual indicators of the cultural values of the creator, in this case a recognition of the value of enlightenment ideals including both science and philosophy. (Riley Gibson 2026)

Johann Baptist Homann and Johann Christoph Homann

Unknown

Sheet map removed from atlas

ca. 1730

Engraving

Special Collections, Carleton College, Northfield, MN

German

City map

Halle

Diefenbacher, Michael, Markus Heinz, Ruth Bach-Damaskinos, Stadtgeschichtliche Museen Nürnberg., Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin--Preussischer Kulturbesitz., and Stadtarchiv Nürnberg. “Auserlesene und allerneueste Landkarten” : der Verlag Homann in Nürnberg 1702-1848. Nürnberg: Tümmels, 2002.

Edney, Matthew H. “German States.” In The History of Cartography vol. 4, part 1, Cartography in the European Enlightenment, ed. Matthew H. Edney and Mary Sponberg Pedley. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2019.

Heinz, Markus. “A Programme for Map Publishing: The Homann Firm in the Eighteenth Century.” Imago Mundi (Lympne) 49, no. 1 (1997): 104–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03085699708592862.

Heinz, Markus. “Homman Family.” In The History of Cartography vol. 4, part 1, Cartography in the European Enlightenment, ed. Matthew H. Edney and Mary Sponberg Pedley. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2019.

Neumann, Joachim. “Geographical Mapping in the German States.” In The History of Cartography vol. 4, part 1, Cartography in the European Enlightenment, ed. Matthew H. Edney and Mary Sponberg Pedley. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2019.

Rights for maps held by individual publishers and institutions. Thumbnails displayed constitute fair use.