As the most important specialized enterprise in eighteenth-century Germany, the Homann map printing firm affords a good case for an investigation of the factors underlying map production. Commercial success seems to have rested on the production of maps which made a political statement as well as presenting geographical and topographical information. Publication of maps concerning specific events, such as sieges, or based on new surveys had no chance of success until the publishing firm had achieved commercial stability with its basic stock of maps./ La maison cartographique Homann fut l'éditeur spécialisé le plus important d'Allemagne au XVIIIe siècle et offre un bon example pour une étude des origines des publications de cartes. Sa réussite commerciale paraît provenir de la production de cartes fournissant des données politiques ainsi que des renseignements géographiques et topographiques. La publication de cartes relatant des événements déterminés, comme des sièges, ou de cartes dressées d'après de nouveaux levés, ne pouvait avoir aucune chance de succès avant que la maison d'édition eût obtenu une stabilité commerciale grâce à son fonds de cartes de ses débuts./ Der kartographische Spezialverlag Homann war das bedeutendste Unternehmen dieser Art im Deutschland des 18. Jahrhunderts. Anhand einer Untersuchung des Verlagsprogrammes und der Anlässe, die zur Herausgabe der Karten führte, läßt sich zeigen, daß die Karten, die allgemeine geographische Information boten oder sich auf aktuelles politisches Geschehen bezogen besonders forciert wurden. Demgegenüber wurde die Herausgabe von Karten, die zeitgenössische Einzelereignisse-wie beispielsweise Belagerungen-darstellten oder nur neue Vermessungsergebnisse publizierten erst sinnvoll, nachdem der Verlag wirtschaftlich auf fester Grundlage stand.
Imago Mundi is the only English-language scholarly periodical devoted exclusively to the history of pre-modern maps, mapping, and map-related ideas from anywhere in the world. It was founded in Berlin in 1935 by the Russian émigré Leo Bagrow as an annual publication, although only five volumes appeared between 1935 and 1948. From 1975 to 2003 publication was regular. In 2004 Imago Mundi became a biannual publication. The first volume was in German. Thereafter English was used with, very occasionally, French. After 2002 (volume 54) Imago Mundi publishes exclusively in English with foreign language abstracts (currently French, German, and Spanish). A multi-disciplinary approach was adopted in 1995. All articles represent original research, are refereed, and are well illustrated (recent volumes have included color plates). Since 1977 each volume has contained a full complement of scholarly aids in the form of book reviews, bibliography, and chronicles, all of which have made Imago Mundi a valuable journal of record as well as scholarship.
Imago Mundi, Ltd. is a not-for-profit charity. The Board of Directors appoints the Editor and makes policy, but not editorial, decisions. Imago Mundi, Ltd. is also responsible for coordinating the International Conferences on the History of Cartography (founded in 1964) and for producing periodic editions of a 'Who's Who in the History of Cartography'.
This item is part of a JSTOR Collection.
For terms and use, please refer to our
Imago Mundi