Madrid Spain Espagna 1883 Lett's SDUK detailed fine city plan

City of Madrid.

(Spain).

Issued 1883, London by Letts, Son & Co.

Attractive, fascinating and uncommon late 19th century color lithographed map. Key identifies specific buildings and locations within the plan. The red buildings seen as small dots are numbered to this key.

A late and unique scarce lithographic re-issue of a SDUK engraved plate from the 1830's & 40's, here transferred from steel to a planographic process of printing, also with amendments made to the map during the transfer process. 

Lett's firm created entirely new maps from the earlier engraved plates by transferring and then printing them using completely technologies. 

Most SDUK maps were previously issued either uncolored or with pencil-thin outline hand color. Here the updated version of the map is presented with thicker an bolder outline coloring, plus other visual enhancements altering the end result. There is only one version of this plan and is much less common than one might think. Try to buy several of them at once and the point will be made. If they were old coins or medals relating to this same city, they would be on the cover of a specialized magazine or auction catalogue.

Well preserved, clean, fresh and nice looking example of a very scarce 19th century map.

Sheet Measures c. 14"H x 17"W.

Engraved Area Measures c. 12 1/8"H x 15 5/8"W.

Cartographic Reference(s):

Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers, vol.3, pp. 125-6.

[R19482].