Lively pictorial map of Latvia, evocatively titled “Apcelo Savu Dzimto Zemi!” – or “Travel to Your Homeland!” printed in Riga in 1938 and commissioned by the Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Social Affairs to celebrate and encourage domestic tourism on the eve of World War II.
The entire surface of Latvia is enlivened by a myriad of colorful vignettes filled with folk, historical and architectural details. Next to each place name-from major cities such as Riga, Liepāja, and Daugavpils to smaller rural towns-we find pictorial depictions of castles, churches, peasants in traditional dress, artisans at work, monuments, folk fairs, nature scenery, and regional costumes.
The capital Riga is prominently illustrated with the image of the Cathedral (Rīgas Doms), one of the most important Gothic churches in the Baltic, and medieval towers evoking the ancient city walls. Ventspils, a major port on the Baltic Sea, is accompanied by merchant ships and fishing boats, a symbol of its maritime vocation. Daugavpils, the country’s second-largest city, is illustrated with fortifications and soldiers in uniform, a clear reference to the historic Daugavpils Fortress, a nineteenth-century Russian military structure that still symbolizes the city.The waters of the Baltic, which lap Latvia to the west, are home to sailing ships, cruise ships, seagulls, and even a mythological figure on a golden boat, which contributes to the fairy-tale tone of the whole.
These illustrations are not just decorative, but serve an educational and identity function, suggesting what to see, what to remember, and what makes each location unique.
[Latvia] Apcelo Savu Dzimto Zemi! (Travels around his native country!)
- Dimension: 64 x 42 cm
- Year: 1938
€ 500,00
Related products
-
![]()
Striking example of the Mercator-Hondius map of the region centered on the Lower Danube, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Macedonia. From the Mercator Hondius “Atlas Minor” published in Amsterdam in 1648 at Jannsonius. In 1607 Jodocus Hondius published a reduced size version of Mercator’s “Atlas”, itself suitably titled “Atlas Minor”. The maps were copied from those of the great cartographer Mercator of around 1580-90 or were reductions of Hondius’ own maps of 1606. Almost 20 years…
- Year: 1648
- Dimension: 195 x 145 mm
- Place of publication: Amsterdam
-
![]()
A fine miniature map from “Theatro del Mondo” the famous plagiarised version of Ortelius’ pocket atlas published specifically for the Italian market by Pietro Marchetti. First printed in Brescia this is the really rare Venetian edition of 1667. Italian text on verso.
- Year: 1667
- Dimension: 75 x 105 mm
- Place of publication: Venice
-
![]()
Miniature map of Pomerania embellished by rich cartouche, vessel and sea monters in the Baltic. From “Theatro del Mondo” the famous plagiarised version of Ortelius’ pocket atlas published specifically for the Italian market by Pietro Marchetti. First printed in Brescia this is the really rare Venetian edition of 1667. [cod.1213/15]
- Year: 1667
- Dimension: 75 x 105 mm
- Place of publication: Venice
-
![]()
A fine miniature map of Hungary from “Theatro del Mondo” the famous plagiarised version of Ortelius’ pocket atlas published specifically for the Italian market by Pietro Marchetti. First printed in Brescia this is the really rare Venetian edition of 1667. Italian text on verso.
- Year: 1667
- Dimension: 75 x 105 mm
- Place of publication: Venice
