Maire Francois Joseph, “Carte générale des limites entre les trois empires, et leurs variations successivesdépuislannée 1718 jusquàce jour, ou theatre de la guerre presente : à cette carte générale se trouventannexéesplusieursautrescartesparticulieres des contrées les plus intéressantes, suruneplusgrandeechelle / par F. J. M. Maire, François J.”Vienna, 1788. An impressive 150x68cm separately printed copper engraved wall map of Northern Greece,the Balkans and the Black Sea area, from the Adriatic to the Caucasus, including Macedonia & Thrace, with original hand-colouring. Maire was a French born topographical engineer of the first generation of engineers of the famous school of Ponts et Chausses, that entered Austrian service and became the main cartographer of the Austrian general staff. This is a very early example of a military map of the area of Balkans, prepared and published (probably in very limited print run) just after the outbreak of Austrian / Turkish war of 1788/91 that followed the Russian / Turkish war (started in late 1787). This extravagant map gives a full overview of the theater of operations, focusing on the northern Balkan peninsula that was the main target of the Austrian army. The map also reflects the main purpose of this war, the segmentation of the Ottoman Empire between Austria and Russia. The map sheets were pasted on uniform linen (very unusual for that time), suggesting a use in the campaign field. Six smaller regional maps will be published later and up to 1791 separately (2 of these maps - not present here - are mentioned in Zacharakis 2123 & 2124). Almost fine condition attached on contemporary period linen. Not in Zacharakis. Extremely Rare.