The first state of Georg Freudenhammer’s map of Palatinatus Posnaniensis from 1645

Abstract

Abstract The subject of this analysis is Georg Freudenhammer’s map of Palatinatus Posnaniensis , editions of which were published by all major publishing houses of the 17 th century: the Blaeu family, Janssonius, Schenk/Valk or Janssonius van Waesbergen. The formerly unknown first state was dedicated to the new Queen of Poland, Louise Marie Gonzaga. The author hypothesises that it was probably a gift from the author of the map, who participated in Krzysztof Opaliński’s envoy to the future queen. The speed at which this work was produced did not allow for its final completion, so in the later state of the map, a number of additions were made, the addressee of the dedication was changed, and the text of the royal privilege to print it was added. Several features indicate that Freudenhammer’s original intention was changed over time, and the new addressee of the work became the author’s employer and mentor – Krzysztof Opaliński.