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This finely engraved map of "The Northern Part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia" represents a detailed cartographic depiction of the Dalmatian coastline and its adjacent territories during the late 18th century. Created during a period of intense political and territorial shifts in Southeastern Europe, the map reflects the Austrian Empire’s administrative and geographical interests in the region. 

The map illustrates the northern expanse of the Dalmatian coast along the Adriatic Sea, encompassing present-day Croatia and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Adriatic coastline is meticulously rendered, featuring a network of islands, peninsulas, and inlets characteristic of the Dalmatian landscape. Notable islands, such as Pag, Hvar, and Brac, are labeled and outlined in red, emphasizing their significance. Inland areas are depicted with mountainous terrain, rivers, and settlements, extending eastward into the borderlands of the Ottoman Empire, marked as "Turkischen Reichs" (Turkish Empire). 

The map delineates boundaries between the Austrian-controlled territories and the Ottoman domains to the east. By the 18th century, Dalmatia was under Habsburg rule following the Treaty of Passarowitz (1718) and subsequent conflicts with the Ottomans. The red boundary line separating the Dalmatian lands from Ottoman territory underscores the geopolitical tensions of the era. Settlements such as Zara (modern-day Zadar), Spalato (Split), and Ragusa (Dubrovnik) are prominently marked, reflecting their roles as cultural and administrative centers.

Franz Johann Joseph Reilly, an Austrian publisher, cartographer, and writer active between 1766 and 1820, contributed significantly to the field of cartography with his ambitious atlas project, "Schauplatz der fünf Theile der Welt" (Stage of the Five Parts of the World), undertaken from 1789 to 1806. Despite the extensive nature of his work, which produced over 830 maps, Reilly's focus remained exclusively on Europe, leaving the maps of the other four continents conceptualized but unpublished. His commitment to a uniform criterion for map drawing underscores the meticulous standards and aspirations of Enlightenment-era scholarship and cartography.