Bidspirit auction | A New Map of Sicily

A New Map of Sicily and The Kingdom of Naples by Laurie & Whittle, 1799 - This historically significant map, titled ”A New Map of Sicily the First or The Kingdom of Naples,” was published by Laurie & Whittle in London on May 12, 1799. It is drawn with several additions from Zannoni's map, and features southern Italy and the eastern edge of Sicily, with original hand colouring. The map was published during the final days of the short-lived Parthenopean Republic, a tumultuous period in Italian history. Following a failed attempt to expel the French from Rome, King Ferdinand IV fled to Palermo aboard Horatio Nelson's ship Vanguard, and the French occupied Naples, declaring the Parthenopean Republic in January 1799. Just a month after this map's publication, the Royalist counterattack, supported by the British, Turks, and Russians, recaptured the city. The events surrounding the fall of the Republic led to the tragic executions of its leaders, which later sparked public outrage in Britain, notably through Charles James Fox's condemnation in the House of Commons. This map offers a vivid snapshot of a turbulent moment in European history. Great for collectors of Sicily, Kingdom of Naples, Parthenopean Republic, Laurie & Whittle, 1799 map, Zannoni, historical maps, Southern Italy, Napoleonic Wars, Italian history. Condition: A good example. Size: 69 x 51 cm (27.2 x 20.1 inches).