Printing Maps on Oversized Paper: The 18th century paper mills in the Toscolano district
January 9, 2023
Video
Image from Dr. Pugliese's presentation
About the Program:
The Hâcı Ahmed heart-shaped map of the world was printed in Venice in 1795 and the Library of Congress has one of the few existing copies of this remarkable map in the Geography & Map Division (G&M). Join us for a presentation given by Dr. Silvia Pugliese on the history and technique of papermaking in the Venetian Republic. Her research casts new light on the special large sized papers made there for map-making, export and domestic use during the 18th century, including the paper chosen to print this map, and for the Middle-Eastern export market.
The Marciana National Library in Venice has the six original 16th century wood blocks carved for creating this map, and two copies of the printed map. Dr. Pugliese has traced the identity of the mill that supplied the paper for this map, using original sources from the State Archives of Venice, and examining registers and paper samples that are still present in the City records of the historic mills in the valleys around the Lake Garda in the Veneto.
Carissa Pastuch from G&M will discuss content and context of the Hâcı Ahmed map as well as why the Library’s copy of the map is significant to the collections.
Speakers
Dr. Silvia Pugliese, Head of Preservation and Conservation, Marciana National Library
Carissa Pastuch, Reference Librarian, Geography & Map Division, Library of Congress
