HOMANNO, Johann Baptist. Hiberniae Regnum tam in Praecipuas Ultoniae, Connaciae, Lageniae et Momoniae quam in Minores Earundem Provincias et Ditiones Divisum. Nuremberg: Johann Baptist Homann, c.1716.

Original engraved map with contemporary hand-colouring, approximately 550 × 650mm. Framed and glazed. The map depicts the whole of Ireland divided into its four provinces of Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and Munster, with extensive topographical detail including counties, towns, rivers, mountains and coastal features. Richly embellished with Homann’s characteristic baroque decorative cartouches, including an elaborate allegorical title cartouche to the upper left and an ornate scale cartouche with the British Royal Arms, fishermen and rural figures to the lower right. Offshore islands are separately delineated, while the Irish Sea is prominently named The Irish Sea or St. George’s Channel. Some occasional foxing.
Johann Baptist Homann was the foremost German cartographer of the early eighteenth century and, in 1715, was appointed Imperial Geographer to Emperor Charles VI. This map appeared during the most celebrated period of his career and became one of the standard continental maps of Ireland, remaining influential through numerous later editions issued by the Homann Heirs. Based largely upon the cartographic traditions established by Nicolaes Visscher, it combines remarkable geographical detail with the decorative engraving for which Homann’s work is renowned.
A handsome and highly decorative eighteenth-century map of Ireland, sought after both for its historical significance and for its impressive visual appeal.