Hungary (Hungaria), 1603 - Petrus Bertius

A miniature copper engraving of Hungary, published in Amsterdam by Barent Langenes and Petrus Bertius in 1603. The heading Descriptio Regni Hungariae appears above the map. Rivers, towns and mountains share a compact space, with a blue title cartouche and a scale in German miles anchoring the lower left.

The scale of the engraving is part of its appeal. It was made to fit a pocket atlas, where a whole kingdom could be held in the hand and read alongside the accompanying text. The contemporary hand colouring gives the small image definition without overwhelming the engraved lines. The reverse carries Latin letterpress headed Descriptio Norici, a detail that shows how the sheet originally fitted into the sequence of the book.

The scale in German miles deserves a closer look. On so small a plate it is a practical tool as well as a neat piece of engraving. The change from Hungaria on the map side to Noricum on the reverse shows the reader turning from one historical region to the next in the atlas.

The engraving measures 8.5 × 12 cm and the paper measures 11 × 17.5 cm. The sheet is in very good condition.