Antique bird's eye view of Afghanistan and Central Asia, 1885

Alfred Concanen was an Irish artist and lithographer known for his panoramic bird's-eye view maps. One of his notable works is the "Bird's-Eye View of Afghanistan and Central Asia," which was published in 1885. This map provides a detailed and artistic representation of the region, capturing the landscape, cities, towns, and other geographical features from an elevated perspective.

The map was created during a time of great interest in Central Asia and its geopolitical significance. In the 19th century, Afghanistan and Central Asia were at the center of the Great Game, a political and strategic rivalry between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for influence in the region.

Concanen's bird's-eye view map would have been a valuable resource for military strategists, travelers, and anyone interested in understanding the layout and topography of this remote and challenging region. It likely depicted major trade routes, cities, mountain ranges, and other key landmarks.

Concanen gained popularity for his lithographic prints, particularly in the realm of music sheet covers, where he excelled at creating vibrant and eye-catching designs. He produced many lithographs for various music publishers and sheet music covers, primarily during the mid-19th century.

His lithographs often featured elegant and detailed illustrations of musical instruments, scenes, and musicians, which helped enhance the visual appeal of the sheet music and attract customers. Though he mainly worked in Ireland, his work reached an international audience due to the popularity of the sheet music he designed.

Alfred Concanen's lithographic works contributed to the artistic and cultural landscape of his time, and some of his prints have become sought-after collectibles among enthusiasts of vintage sheet music and graphic art. While his artistic career is primarily associated with lithography, there may have been other facets to his life and work that are not as widely documented.