{"product_id":"old-pictorial-map-of-spain-and-its-colonies-civil-guard-by-eraso-1895-madrid-barcelona-cuba-puerto-rico-canaries","title":"Large Old Map of Spain and its Colonies by Eraso, 1895: Civil Guard, Madrid, Barcelona, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Canaries","description":"\u003cp\u003eIllustrated map of Spain and its possessions for the Civil Guard, created in 1895 by Modesto Eraso y Prados, marries disciplined cartography with a painter’s flourish. Its political geography is crisply articulated across the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic, while ornamental borders and patriotic vignettes infuse the composition with institutional pride. Portraits of key figures in the Civil Guard, together with meticulously rendered uniforms, medals, and insignia, turn the map into a visual chronicle of service and identity. A carefully arranged legend anchors the pictorial elements to the territorial facts, while topographical features—mountain chains, river systems, and coastal contours—provide a strong geographic foundation for the sweeping narrative of Spain and its far-flung holdings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDated at a moment of profound transition, the map captures Spain’s imperial horizon on the eve of the twentieth century. With Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Canary Islands prominently integrated into the national tableau, the composition reflects a geopolitical order that would soon be tested. 1895 marked the outbreak of the Cuban War of Independence, and this map reads as both assertion and reassurance: a statement of cohesion and reach during a period of mounting uncertainty. Its martial iconography underscores a framework of authority and duty, situating the Civil Guard within the broader story of state power, colonial administration, and the maintenance of internal order across diverse terrains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hand behind this work, Modesto Eraso y Prados, brought rare dual expertise to the task. A career officer who rose to infantry commander, Eraso taught drawing at the Higher War College, and his command of both precision and pictorial effect is evident throughout. His earlier homage on parchment to General Cassola in 1889 attests to a cultivated sensitivity to military pageantry and institutional memory. Here, that sensibility translates into a map that balances fidelity to borders with a ceremonial program of images—where the elegance of line and color serves strategic clarity, and each decorative flourish reinforces the disciplined purpose of the Civil Guard’s mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map’s geographic intelligence is immediate and practical. Major centers—Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, Cádiz, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Málaga, Granada, Córdoba, and others—are positioned within a fine-grained lattice of provinces, rivers, and mountain passes that shaped travel, trade, and security. Ports like Cádiz, Cartagena, and Bilbao signal Spain’s maritime arteries, while an inset likely concentrates attention on the Caribbean, with La Habana, Santiago de Cuba, and Puerto Rico delineated to clarify distances, routes, and areas of concern. The inclusion of the Canary Islands emphasizes Spain’s Atlantic bridgehead. Together, the legend and symbology translate terrain into operational sense—ideal for an institution tasked with safeguarding roads, customs, and communications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArt and authority converge in the decorative program. Panels of Civil Guard uniforms trace the evolution of service roles and functions; medals and insignia present a lexicon of honor, discipline, and reward; and the portraits tie the institution’s day-to-day duty to its leadership and traditions. The ornamental border reads like an illuminated frame to statehood, elevating the cartography into a ceremonial standard. As a historical document, this map distills the last confident vision of Spain’s nineteenth-century reach. As an artwork, it transforms geography into an emblem of identity—an eloquent, timely witness to a world on the brink of profound change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlaces on this map\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMadrid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBarcelona\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSevilla\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eValencia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCádiz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBilbao\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZaragoza\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMálaga\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLa Habana (Havana)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSantiago de Cuba\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePuerto Rico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCanarias (Canary Islands)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGranada\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCórdoba\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlicante\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCartagena\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eToledo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSalamanca\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerez de la Frontera\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMurcia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable Features \u0026amp; Landmarks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed political borders of Spain and its territorial possessions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrations of military uniforms of the Civil Guard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedal and insignia representations, indicating military distinctions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortraits of military figures relevant to the Civil Guard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorative borders that invoke national pride and military heritage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn inset map likely showing specific regions or military locations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA legend providing context for symbols and illustrations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTopographical features such as mountains and rivers, contributing to geographic understanding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical and design context\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrated map of Spain and its possessions for the Civil Guard by Modesto Eraso y Prados (1895).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated for the Civil Guard, highlighting territorial possessions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModesto Eraso y Prados was a military officer skilled in painting and drafting; he rose to infantry commander and taught drawing at the Higher War College.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe produced an art book on parchment in homage to General Cassola in 1889.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map features detailed political geography of Spain and its colonial possessions, including a focus on the Caribbean (e.g., Cuba).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePictorial and thematic style integrating colorful illustrations with cartographic details.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrnamental borders and decorative elements, including military medals and portraits.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects Spain’s late-19th-century geopolitical landscape during a period of imperial presence and transition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eServes as a record of Spain’s influence and territorial extent at the end of the 19th century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the \u003ca href=\"\/it\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003ebest old maps\u003c\/a\u003e to see if something else catches your eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease \u003ca href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact me\u003c\/a\u003e to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex\/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58250359701888,"sku":"UM00295207A","price":63.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58250359734656,"sku":"UM00295208A","price":140.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58250359767424,"sku":"UM00295209A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58250359800192,"sku":"UM00295210A","price":73.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58250359832960,"sku":"UM00295211A","price":160.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed canvas 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