Reisz T. Csaba: Magyarország általános térképének elkészítése a 19. század első évtizedében - Lipszky János és segítői térképészeti vállalkozásának ismertetése (Budapest, 2002)
IDEGEN NYELVŰ ÖSSZEFOGLALÓK - The Making of Hungary’s First General Map in the first Decade of the 19th Century. The Cartographic Enterprise of János Lipszky
Cartographic antecedents about Hungary in the Habsburg Empire in the 18th century (Chapter 3) In taking stock of antecedents, the present chapter examines the following issues: i) the authors of the map (their education, civilian or military status, financial or other type of support from official organs or influential high-ranking individuals), ii) types of earlier maps and , surveys used, iii) cartographic methods applied (triangulation, astronomical surveys) and iv) the characteristics of the map produced (size, scale, content, print publication, etc.). This chapter will portray notable turning points through an attempt at the comprehensive summary of the achievements of Hungarian cartographic literature. A general assessment of the achievements of contemporary cartographic endeavours will show that in order to produce accurate and detailed maps, there was a need for the coordinated work of a fair number of experts as well as for the effective contribution of national and/or county level governmental organs, civilian and/or military authorities. Although “lonely entrepreneurs” (e.g. JÁNOS MÁTYÁS KORABINSZKY) who attempted to produce maps among dire circumstances merit mention, they also requested assistance from county officials that was not always met — the quality of Korabinszky’s maps reflect his solitary work. A new type of cartography, based on professional standards such as field surveys, gained momentum following the period of liberating wars against the Turks. Significant representatives of this period were LUIGI FERDINANDO MÁRSIGLI and his colleague Johann Christoph Müller. Ottó Volkra, vice-president of the Hungarian Chamber, provided assistance to Müller is producing the latter’s 1709 map by securing primarily financial contributions from the central governmental organ. The activities of MÁTYÁS BÉL and SÁMUEL MlKOVINY, relatively well known from literature, were the first cartographers in the 18th century. Bél involved his children, colleagues and students in his endeavours, and with support from the Council of the Governor-general, also succeeded in securing the counties’ contribution, requesting their assistance in correctional tasks. Sámuel Mikoviny produced maps for county descriptions, which required a wide range of information. In his Epistola (1732) to Mátyás Bél, Mikoviny laid down the foundations for producing modern scientific maps (astronomical, geometric, magnetic and hydro-geological data). His work and maps had great impact on the activities of later cartographers. The next milestones are related to the best-organized organs under central direction. From the second half of the 18th century, the army became the “agency” that had an ever-increasing demand for high quality maps and is willing to mobilize its internal (personal, technical and financial) resources. New maps of the country were the products of such efforts. 434
