Georgian Engraved Map Print
A georgian engraved map print brings home the cartography of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, offering a framed piece of historical geography.
Georgian Engraved Map Print
When you search for a georgian engraved map print, you encounter framed cartography spanning county surveys, regional British maps, and global charts. These works map territories ranging from local counties such as Cheshire and Surrey to the Caribbean, Ireland, and world voyages.
The selections available here focus heavily on framed map wall art, alongside related items like folio stands. Cartographic pieces by notable makers appear frequently, set behind glass in wooden frames.
The periods represented stretch across the eighteenth century, the Georgian era proper, and into the nineteenth century. Most examples combine engraved lines on paper with later watercolour tinting.
Materials and technique
The foundation of every piece is paper bearing inked line engravings from copper plates. Cartographers and publishers employed skilled engraver hands to press geographic details, place names, and decorative cartouches onto the sheets.
Many examples received hand-applied watercolour washes to distinguish boundaries, counties, and coastlines after the initial printing. Framing materials include traditional wood, burr wood, and gilt wood, protecting the paper beneath glass.
Listings feature paper maps published by prominent Georgian cartographers, preserved in wooden and gilt wood frames behind glass.
Judging quality
Quality rests upon the clarity of the engraved lines and the crispness of the cartographic detail. Sharp typography and well-defined border work separate accomplished plates from worn impressions.
The precision of contemporary or later hand-colouring contributes to visual appeal, as do the quality of the framing materials, such as burr wood or gilt surrounds, and the overall preservation of the paper.
Thomas Jefferys·Robert Morden·John Cary·Thomas Kitchin·Eman Bowen·J Harrison·J Duncan·C Smith
The Georgian Engraved Map Print Glossary
- Cartography
- The science or practice of drawing maps. This encompasses both regional county surveys and world charts.
- Cartouche
- A decorative frame on a map, often enclosing the title, scale, or publisher details. These elements showcase the artistic skill of the period.
- Folio stand
- A wooden piece of furniture designed to hold large books, prints, or loose maps. They provide practical storage for flat paper collections.
- Engraving
- A printmaking technique where an artist cuts lines into a metal plate to hold ink. Copper was the standard medium for detailed map production.
Georgian Engraved Map Print: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hang a framed map?
Hang these pieces away from direct sunlight to protect the paper and watercolour pigments from fading over time. Use picture wire and appropriate wall fixings suited to the weight of the wood frame and glass.
Ensure the wall is stable and the fixing securely anchored, as framed maps can be heavy. Position them at eye level to allow easy reading of the engraved place names and cartographic details.
What periods do these maps cover?
The maps span the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with a strong concentration in the Georgian era. Dates on the plates range from the early seventeen-hundreds through to the eighteen-thirties.
Style and typography often shift from ornate eighteenth-century cartouches to cleaner nineteenth-century administrative layouts. Each piece reflects the surveying standards and geographical knowledge of its specific publication date.
Are these maps original prints?
The selections consist of period-engraved prints pulled from copper plates rather than modern reproductions. They represent historical documents produced by known cartographers and publishers of their day.
Paper stock, plate marks, and ink characteristics align with eighteenth and nineteenth-century printing practices. Many include period handwriting or contemporary hand-applied watercolour washes.