1745 Merseburg Map, Germany – Petrus Schenk Jr. Antique Map
Accurate Geometrischer General Ris des Stiffts Merseburg
Antique Map of Merseburg, Halle, Leipzig and Surrounding Region, Germany – Petrus Schenk Jr., 1745
A beautifully preserved 18th-century antique map of the Bishopric of Merseburg (Stift Merseburg) and the surrounding region of central Germany, engraved and published in Amsterdam by Petrus Schenk Jr. (1693–1775) in 1745. The map covers much of present-day Saxony-Anhalt and western Saxony, extending from the area around Halle and Merseburg eastward toward Leipzig, and includes an exceptionally detailed network of towns, villages, roads, waterways, territories and administrative boundaries.
The map is titled “Accurate Geometrischer General Ris des Stiffts Merseburg” and provides a fascinating picture of the political and geographical landscape of 18th-century Germany. The Saale River runs through the map from the area south of Halle toward Merseburg, while numerous smaller rivers, roads and settlements are carefully engraved throughout the surrounding countryside.
Among the more prominent places shown are Merseburg, Halle, Leipzig, Weißenfels, Zeitz, Querfurt, Schafstädt, Lauchstädt, Lützen, Pegau, Delitzsch, Schkeuditz, Markranstädt, Zwenkau, Borna and Grimma, along with a remarkable number of smaller towns, villages and estates.
The map is particularly interesting for its depiction of the historical territories and administrative divisions surrounding Merseburg. It identifies areas including the Amt Giebichenstein, Amt Dölitsch, Amt Schkeuditz, Amt Lützen and Amt Pegau, as well as the Weißenfelsischer Bezirk, Freyburger Grenze, Querfurther Grenze and Mansfeldische Grenze. These historical boundaries make the map valuable not only as a regional map but also as a document of the political geography of central Germany before the modern German states were established.
The elaborate Baroque title cartouche in the lower left depicts a highly decorative allegorical scene with the arms and symbols associated with the territory. A compass rose appears in the upper central portion of the map.
The map is originally hand-colored and engraved on laid paper. The vertical center fold has been partially reinforced from the verso at an earlier date. The detailed engraving and extensive place-name information make this an especially attractive map for collectors interested in Merseburg, Halle, Leipzig, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, German history and 18th-century cartography.
Map Details
- Mapmaker / Publisher: Petrus Schenk Jr. (1693–1775)
- Date: 1745
- Place of publication: Amsterdam
- Title: Accurate Geometrischer General Ris des Stiffts Merseburg
- Region: Merseburg and surrounding areas of present-day Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, Germany
- Technique: Copperplate engraving with original hand coloring
- Dimensions: 46 × 55.5 cm (18.1 × 21.9 in.)
- Condition: The vertical center fold has been partially reinforced from the verso at an earlier date.
Places Shown
Merseburg, Halle, Leipzig, Weißenfels, Zeitz, Querfurt, Schafstädt, Lauchstädt, Lützen, Pegau, Delitzsch, Schkeuditz, Markranstädt, Zwenkau, Borna, Grimma, Giebichenstein and numerous additional towns, villages and estates throughout the Merseburg region.
Historical territories and districts: Stift Merseburg, Amt Giebichenstein, Amt Dölitsch, Amt Schkeuditz, Amt Lützen, Amt Pegau, Weißenfelsischer Bezirk, Freyburger Grenze, Querfurther Grenze and Mansfeldische Grenze.
This is a wonderful original 1745 map of Merseburg and central Germany, combining exceptionally detailed cartography with an elaborate Baroque decorative cartouche.
30% discount: Enter code MAPS30 at checkout.
