Angling in Troubled Waters: A Serio-Comic Map of Europe, drawn by Frederick W. Rose in 1899, distills the continent’s fin-de-siècle anxieties into a sparkling cascade of wit and allegory. Rose imagines Europe as a fraternity of fishermen, each nation casting lines across contested seas, snaring prizes and entangling rivals. The United Kingdom appears as John Bull, poised and confident, while a snapping crocodile alludes to Egypt—a sly nod to Britain’s grip on the Suez lifeline. France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and their neighbors become instantly legible through caricature, their ambitions and foibles rendered as tackle, bait, and catch. A meticulously keyed “Reference” guides the reader through the jokes and jabs, ensuring the humor never obscures the historical bite.

The political atmosphere of 1899 provides the map’s brackish tide. Europe teeters between empire and modernity: Germany pursues prestige at sea, Russia sounds the depths of the Black Sea and Balkans, France contends with recent humiliations and colonial friction, while the Ottoman Empire faces a hungry ring of rivals from Greece to the great powers. Spain, still shaken by recent losses, clutches a diminished creel, while fishing lines across the Atlantic hint at the United States’ new reach after a season of fresh catches. The Mediterranean, North Sea, Baltic, and Black Sea become watery borders and battlegrounds, their currents pulling every rod and net into a single, jostling tableau of late nineteenth-century strategy.

Rose’s cartographic theater rests on a recognizable outline of Europe, but its traditional base map is a stage set for an exuberant cast. Caricature is his chosen projection: countries and leaders are not measured by degrees of longitude but by the sharpness of their appetite, anxieties, and alliances. Fishing rods arc like frontiers, lines cross and snag, and the “caught fish” stand in for territories, protectorates, and influence. The vibrant palette separates claims and characters at a glance, while small inset scenes and associative props—nets, baskets, buoys, boots—enrich the satire. The reference key doubles as editorial, annotating each figure with a brisk, mischievous précis of national circumstance.

Frederick W. Rose, a master of the serio-comic map, helped define political cartoon cartography for a mass audience. Building on the success of his famed “octopus” allegories, he refines the method here with a gentler but no less pointed metaphor: angling as statecraft. Rose’s genius lies in compressing complex diplomacy into instantly legible pictures—an art of translation, not simplification. His pen elevates satire to analysis, balancing national stereotypes with specific, timely cues that contemporary viewers would have recognized at once. This is political literacy wrapped in play: an atlas of intentions, drawn with grace, and sharpened by a satirist’s sense of where power hides its hooks.

As a historical artifact, the map captures Europe mid-cast—before the twentieth century yanked the line taut. It rewards prolonged reading: every float, ripple, and quip in the reference key invites fresh interpretation, from Britain’s Egyptian crocodile to the U.S. lines sketched implicitly across new waters. The humor has aged into insight, making the print both conversation piece and primary source. Collectors prize Rose not merely for charm but for acuity; he shows how nations see themselves and one another when war is still hypothetical and diplomacy is a sport. In these troubled waters, the laughs are real, but so are the currents.

Countries and regions on this map

• Countries represented: United Kingdom; France; Germany; Russia; Spain; Italy; Turkey; Greece; various other European nations depicted as caricatures
• Regions shown: Eastern Europe; Western Europe; Mediterranean areas
• Bodies of water: Notable waterways around Europe illustrating maritime boundaries and geopolitical waters

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Caricatured figures: countries as fishermen, with unique caricatures reflecting national traits or situations
• Reference key with humorous commentary on each country’s geopolitical situation
• Visual elements: fishing lines and caught “fish” symbolizing territories; props indicating national influence
• Insets and illustrations that accompany the main map, adding thematic context and humor

Historical and design context

• Angling in Troubled Waters: A Serio-Comic Map of Europe (1899), by Frederick W. Rose
• Depicts the political turmoil in Europe as the 20th century approaches
• Utilizes a caricature style to portray political events and tensions
• Includes allegories (e.g., John Bull with a crocodile representing Egypt)
• Represents the political atmosphere of late 19th-century Europe
• Highlights Rose’s role in shaping political cartoon maps and visualizing inter-nation tensions
• U.S. presence implied through fishing lines symbolizing territorial gains

Please 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.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This 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.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.