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Collection of Maps by Johann George and Johann Christian Schreiber, circa 1740-1750

 Collection — Box: 912 S378a 1740.01, Item: 01-35
Identifier: 912 S378a 1740

Scope and Contents

The Lehigh collection is composed of 35 individual antique maps of different sizes. Twenty-seven maps indicate that they were manufactured by Johann Georg Schreiber, three maps indicate their manufacture was supervised by his widow and five maps are attributed to Johann Christ. Schreiber. The paper is heavy laid paper. The maps have never been bound. The maps measure approximately 17 x 26.5 cm and the overall sheets measures 24 x 32 cm. The image is produced by copperplate engraving. Each map is hand colored, decorated with a compass rose, embellishments, a legend (Erklarung) and in the identifying shield the name of the territory and engraver (Johann George Schreiber, Johann Christ. Schreiber or Johann George Schreiber seel. Wittbe) “verfertiget in Leipzig” in most cases.

Dates

  • 1710-1816

Creator

Language of Materials

Multiple languages

Biographical / Historical

Lehigh’s collection of Schreiber maps is composed of both Johann Christ. and Johann George Schreiber manufacture. It is uncertain about just what the abbreviation Christ. represents: Christian, Christoph or Christliebe. The Christian and Christoph appear to be interchangeablein material about the Schreibers. On one of the map plates the name Christian is completely engraved rather than just the abbreviation. But in the CERL Thesaurus Johann Christoph Schreiber is listed as publisher, copperplate engraver and cartographer in Leipzig and attributed to be the father of Johann George Schreiber (1676-1750). This reference has the record identifier: cnp 01207186 with the authority as the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Other references indicate that the parents of Johann George were Hans (Johannes) and Anna Schreiber. Johann George was one of seven children. He was born in Neusalza-Spremberg and died in Leipzig. The Schreibers were the first German map publishers for the principality of Saxony. In 1710 Johann George Schreiber made a map of Bautzen indicating every building. This feat impressed the Dukes of Saxony and they commissioned Johann George to make maps to determine the boundaries of their lands following the conflict of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). These maps were distributed to all officials of Saxony to understand the established new boundaries. Apparently individual maps were bound as Atlas von Sachsen and became the basis of the Schreibers’ most famous work Atlas Selectus. The Atlas Selectus was published in 1740 with a reissue in 1749 and a subsequent third edition published sometime between 1749 to 1816. The Schreibers also published Atlas Geographicus. After the deaths of the Dukes of Saxony (circa 1718), the Schreibers moved to Leipzig. This fact determined the “in Leipzig” being added to the maps. Upon the death of Johann George, the map publishing business continued under the supervision of his widow (this fact controls the manufacture date of some maps as post 1750), son and other relatives until approximately 1816.Several university libraries in the United States also have collections of Schreiber maps: Brown University, Oberlin University, Reed College (Portland, Oregon),St. John’s University (Minnesota), University of Illinois (Urbana), University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) and the Library of Congress.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet ; 1 boxes, .25 linear feet

Arrangement

Lehigh’s maps are arranged in the sequence as dictated by the bound sequence in the Atlas Selectus in the collection of the Sächsische Landesbibliothek Staats-und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden. Lehigh has a mixed collection of maps engraved both by Johann George Schreiber and Johann Christ. Schreiber as well as some maps indicating the involvement of Johann George Schreiber’s widow. The maps engraved by Johann Christ. Schreiber seem to be rarer. The bound collections in Dresden and Zurich have only maps engraved by Johann George Schreiber.

Other Finding Aids

Library of Congress. OCLC

Schreiber, Johann George. [1750]. Atlas Selectus von allen Königreichen und Ländern der Welt, sum bequemen Gebrach in Schulen, auf Reisen und bey dem Lesen der Zeitungen. Leipzig. (ETH-Bibliothek)

E-lib.ch (Elektronische Bibliothek Schweiz/Swiss Electronic Library)

SLUB: Sächsische Landesbibliothek Staats-und-Universitäatsbibliothek Dresden

Related Materials

E-lib.ch (Elektronische Bibliothek Schweiz/Swiss Electronic Library)

SLUB-dresden.de (SLUB: Sächsische Landesbibliothek Staats-und-Universitäatsbibliothek Dresden)

Thesaurus.cerl.org (Consortium of European Research Libraries)www.saxosilesia.de/atlasselectus (2003-2013 Dirk Habermann)

Title
Collection of Maps by Johann George and Johann Christian Schreiber, circa 1740-1750912 S378a 1740
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)