Baltic Map 1847 Sharpe Denmark Sweden Russia Print - Denmark, Sweden, Baltic Sea, Finland

This map, titled Denmark, Sweden and Russia on the Baltic, comes from Sharpe's Corresponding Atlas, which comprises fifty-four maps constructed upon a system of scale and proportion from the most recent authorities. It was engraved on steel by Joseph Wilson Lowry and published in London by Chapman and Hall, 186 Strand, in 1847, as part of the Divisional Series. The atlas carries the date 1849 on its title page. The sheet measures about 43 by 34 centimeters, and the countries and states are outlined in color, with relief shown by hachures. It is a fine sheet for anyone who likes the clear style of steel engraving. The sheet is a plain and orderly teaching map that was made to be read closely and used often.

The map covers the Baltic Sea and the countries around it, with Denmark, Sweden and parts of Finland and Russia, in a view that stresses the sea as the link between them. The catalog notes that the atlas uses unusual map projections, since its maps were constructed on a system of scale that allowed the sheets to be compared with one another. Joseph Wilson Lowry was a noted engraver, and his precise steel engraving gives the sheet its clean lines and clear lettering. It is a good example of the careful work of the English atlas makers of the 1840s.

Those who enjoy Victorian atlases, a family with roots in Denmark, Sweden or Finland, or a sailor fond of the Baltic will find a thoughtful gift here. TheMapVault's SDUK map of the three kingdoms from about 1860 shows the land, whereas this Sharpe sheet gives the Baltic itself the center. Like every print in the collection, it ships unframed and is available in a full range of sizes, from a compact desk piece to a large-format statement print. It also makes a good pairing with other maps of the Baltic. It will stay a pleasure to look at for many years.