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Description

Original French edition of Paul Hadol's satirical political cartoon map of Europe showing countries personified in caricature and alluding to the tensions that finally erupted as the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870.

In the center, a buffoonish Prussia interacts with its suspicious neighbors. England is depicted as an old woman holding its dog, Ireland, by a leash. Spain and Turkey are portrayed as unconcerned women on the fringes relaxing with a cigarette and a hookah respectively. Corsica and Sardinia become an impish figure mooning the viewer. A rifle with a bayonet near the bottom edge is sardonically labeled "Degrees of Longitude." The various tensions and rivalries between the nations are described in the caption: 'England enraged forgets Ireland but still keeps it in her power. Spain & Portugal smoke away lazily. France tries to overthrow Prussia who advances one hand on Holland & knee over Austria. Italy advises Bismark to keep off. Corsica & Sardinia laugh on at all. Denmark hopes to recover Holstein. Turkey is drowsily awaking from smoke. Sweden crouching like a panther. Russia a beggar trying for anything to fill his basket'.

One of the earliest political satire (Serio-Comic) maps, Hadol's map was copied in English, German and Dutch.

Reference
cf MCC 1, #75-79.