Antique Map of Prussia & Mecklenburg, Hand Colored, Blackie, circa 1859

€ 240

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Date: 1859
Mapmaker / artist: Blackie & Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh & London, circa 1859
Technique: Copper engraving with original hand color
Sheet size: 37 × 54 cm (14.6 × 21.3 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-12685-1-20

What the condition grades mean

Excellent: Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good: Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good: Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair: Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.

Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.

Condition

Good antique condition. Light overall age toning and minor scattered foxing, mainly in the margins. Original central fold as issued. Plate mark visible. No major tears or losses.

About this sheet

Antique Map of Prussia & Mecklenburg, Hand Colored, Blackie, circa 1859

This detailed antique map depicts Prussia and Mecklenburg at the height of their 19th-century territorial extent, showing an exceptionally complex political and geographic landscape just prior to German unification. The map presents East and West Prussia, Brandenburg, Pomerania, Silesia, and Mecklenburg, with provincial boundaries carefully hand colored to distinguish administrative divisions.

Cities, towns, roads, rivers, canals, and railways are densely engraved, reflecting the military, economic, and bureaucratic importance of Prussia during this period. Major centers such as Berlin, Königsberg, Breslau, Stettin, Danzig, Magdeburg, Potsdam, and Rostock are clearly marked, alongside the Oder, Vistula, Elbe, and Oder–Spree canal systems that underpinned regional trade and transport.

Inset maps provide additional geographic clarity, including focused views of East Prussia and surrounding Baltic regions. Coastlines along the Baltic Sea are finely delineated, with bays, ports, and islands rendered in careful detail. The engraving combines precision with elegance, enhanced by original hand coloring that improves legibility without overwhelming the line work.

Published around 1860 by Blackie & Son of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London, this map comes from a respected British atlas series known for accuracy and clarity. It is both an important historical document and a visually compelling decorative piece, appealing to collectors of German history, military cartography, and 19th-century European maps.

Condition report:
Good antique condition. Light overall age toning and minor scattered foxing, mainly in the margins. Original central fold as issued. Plate mark visible. No major tears or losses.

Framing tips:
A wide ivory or soft parchment mat enhances the dense engraving and hand coloring. Suitable frame options include dark walnut, black, or antique bronze for a refined library or study setting.