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The Seven Years War (1756-63)

Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war

      ? WILLIAM ROY (1726-90)

      Map of the river Lahn, Germany, 1759

      c.1759

      Pencil, pen, red ink, watercolour and grey wash on three pieces of thin tracing paper, joined | Scale: 1:29,900 approx. | RCIN 732123

      A map of the positions of the Allied army and French encampments on the Lahn, October 1759. Seven Years War (1756-1763). Oriented with south-south-east to top.

      The attribution to William Roy, which was surmised in the old catalogue entry, is made on stylistic grounds. The area covered is a corridor of the River Lahn running for about 24 km (15 miles) from Wetzlar (50°33'00"N 08°30'00"E) in the west to Staufenberg (50°40'00"N 08°43'00"E) in the north-east, and extending to about 3 km to either side of the river. A few of the encamped regiments are named; others are numbered but there is no explanatory key.

      Formerly kept in a rough buff paper folder with the old heading in red ink on the front.

      Condition: eight fold lines; brown discolouration along left edge; brown staining.

      • ? William Roy (1726-90) (surveyor and draughtsman)

        Subject(s)

        Army-France
        Army-GB
        Army-Hanover
        Army-Hesse
        Army-Brunswick
        Army-Allied army (Seven Years' War, 1756-63)

      • Watermark: None

        Mark, stamped: 893

        Condition: eight fold lines; brown discolouration along left edge; brown staining

      • Scale: 1:29,900 approx. Scale bar: Scale of One League, or 6000 ordinary Paces [153 mm =].

        45.6 x 67.2 cm (neatline)

        46.3 x 67.8 cm (image)

        48.2 x 69.1 cm (sheet)

      • Manuscript title:

        PLAN / shewing the POSITION of the ALLY’D ARMY / along the Lahn from Hermenstein to Odenhausen, / with the March in 12 Columns from the Camp of Crofdorff to the Heights of Kintzebach / the 24.th of Oct.br to fire a Feu de Joie for the Taking of Quebec / Also the General Position of the French Army along the opposite side of the Lahn. [bottom right, inside border]

        Annotations:

        George III heading: River Lahn 24 Oct. 1759.

        Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom, right of centre, black pencil:] XVI/60.

        George III catalogue entry:

        Lahn A drawn Plan shewing the position of the Allied Army along the Lahn from Hermenstein to Odenhausen; with the March in 12 columns from the camp of Crofdorff [Krofdorf-Gleiberg] to the Heights of Kintzebach, the 24.th of Oct.r 1759 to fire a feu de joie for the taking of Quebec: also the general position of the French Army along the opposite side of the Lahn. (by Capt.n W. Roy?).

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      • 18 February 2026

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