18th century map of France

A fine example of this detailed map of France at the start of the War of the Spanish Succession, showing the principal towns and cities, road networks, and the varied terrain of the kingdom. The map is enhanced by an elaborate cartouche depicting soldiers fending off lions. Johann Baptist Homann, founder of the Homann publishing house in Nuremberg, was one of the leading cartographers of early 18th-century Europe. His maps combine clear geographic presentation with rich engraving and were widely disseminated across the continent.