Johann Baptist Homann

Hydrographia Germaniae, 1712

A fine and earliest map of Germany that shows and names all the rivers and lakes in the country. Johann Baptist Homann, a German engraver and publisher who established himself and his family in Nuremberg in 1702. He published his first atlas, "Atlas Novus" in 1707, and in recognition of this achievement, he was elected to the Berlin Academy of Sciences. In 1715 Homann was appointed Geographer to the Emperor. Homann died in 1724 and his business was continued by his family under the name Homann's Heirs into the late 18th century. Homann's map are generally finely engraved, although often in a rather heavy handed style. The normal coloring for his maps is with an attractive wash color with the cartouches uncolored.