The Atlas von Europa in 82 Blättern is a relatively uncommon 19th-century atlas of Europe, featuring 82 plates. The title page, ornately engraved, credits Friedrich Wilhelm Streit (1772–1839) as its primary author. Published in Berlin in 1837 by W. Natroff & Comp, the atlas appeared just two years before Streit’s death.
Little is known about Streit beyond his affiliations—he was a member of the "Academic Society of Useful Sciences" in Erfurt and the "Society for Geography" in Berlin. He also worked for the publishing house of Justus Perthes and briefly for publishers in Weimar. While many maps in this atlas bear Streit’s name as both designer and engraver, numerous plates were engraved under his direction by various artists, including W. Waltez, Majerski, W. V. Mollendorf, and his sons, Arno and Quido Streit.
The maps are densely detailed, featuring an extensive array of symbols, with some legends containing over 25 different notations. Each map includes carefully hand-colored outlines distinguishing political districts and sub-districts, which are also listed in inset tables. The style of many maps—particularly those engraved by Streit himself—reflects a clear influence from Weimar atlases.
Four unusual schematic diagrams at the end of the atlas provide additional geographic insights. One plate presents an overview of Europe's highest mountains, while the remaining three offer unusual schematic representations of European river systems. These diagrams depict each river’s course, from its source to its terminus, highlighting the territories and major cities it traverses. The accompanying text details each river’s length, drainage basin area (in square miles), major tributaries (categorized as left or right), the beginning point of river navigability, and a list of bridges spanning the river. The inclusion of schematic diagrams adds a unique educational dimension, offering insights into Europe’s topography and hydrology beyond traditional map representations.
The 82 maps can be divided into following sections:
- 1 overview map of Eruope
- 1 map of Switzerland
- 5 maps of Spain an d Portugal
- 5 maps of France
- 29 maps of Germany and Prussia
- 14 maps of Austrian monarchy
- 5 maps of Italy
- 4 maps of UK and Ireland
- 6 maps of Benelux and Scandinavia
- 4 maps of Russia
- 1 map of Poland
- 2 maps of Greece and Turkey
- 4 thematic charts
As a relatively rare publication, this atlas remains a valuable historical resource for collectors, historians, and cartography enthusiasts alike.
