A very scarce folding map of Poland at the Second Partition

SOTZMAN, Daniel Friedrich.

Karte von Polen und den angränzenden Provinzen in XVI Blättern nach des H.O.C. Büsching Erdbeschreibung und den besten Hülfsmitteln entworfen von D.F. Sotzman G. Secret, beym Ob. Kr. Coll. u. Geogr der Königl Acad d. Wissenschaften zu Berlin. [with] Polen Litauen und Kurland im Jahr 1796.
Berlin: Verlag der K.P.A. Kunst u.Buchhandlung, 1793. Original colour. Dissected and laid on linen, total 985 x 1200mm, folded into a contemporary marbled slipcase with morocco gilt label and matching marbled chemise; also containing a second folding map, original colour, 455 x 510mm

Second map with old ink mss. edits.

A detailed map published in the Prussian capital of Berlin immediately after the Second Partition of Poland, in which the Prussians and Russians helped themselves to more Polish territory. It shows the pre- and post-partition borders. The elaborate title vignette was drawn by H.J. Bruningh and is also dated 1793.
The second, smaller map shows how the Prussian, Russians and Austrians carved up the remainder of Poland in the Third Partition, 1795. The map has paper patches over the title and date ('itauen' and '96'); all the other examples we could trace have the same details engraved on, suggesting this is an early state, soon changed. It is impossible to see the original engraving under the patches.
As Sotzman (1754-1840) was a self-taught engraver it is probable that he engraved this map himself. He became Geographer to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1786 and Prussian Minister for War in 1804.

NIEWODNICZANSKIEGO: Imago Polaniae, K125.
Stock ID : 18079