VII Haupt-karte Italia

Rare map taken from Anselm Desing's book  Auxilia historica continuata, oder Supplementum zu dem historischen Behülff / zusammen getragen von P. Anselmo Desing, published in Augsburg in 1747-48.

Anselm Desing (Amberg, March 15, 1699 – Ensdorf, December 17, 1772) was a German philosopher, historian, jurist, educator, and Benedictine monk. Born in 1699, after attending the Jesuit gymnasium in Amberg and studying philosophy in Vienna, he entered the Benedictine monastery of Ensdorf in Bavaria in 1717. He then began teaching history and geography, personally taking care of compiling textbooks and geographical maps. In his historical work, he relied on primary sources, influenced by his fellow brothers Meichelbeck and Mabillon. After teaching at the Freising gymnasium (1725-1737), he earned a doctorate in philosophy in Salzburg and taught poetry courses at the local Benedictine university. His interests included poetry, mathematics, history, and ethics. In 1743, due to the strong hostility generated by his criticisms of Scholasticism, he left his professorship. When the project to establish an academy in Vienna fell through, he retired to Kremsmünster without giving up his pedagogical activity. The construction of the city's astronomical observatory can be attributed to his involvement. In 1750, he traveled to Rome for a research project. In 1759, Desing became a full member of the newly founded Bavarian Academy of Sciences; in 1761, he was elected Abbot of Ensdorf, a position he held until his death in 1772.

Etching, in excellent condition.