SOARES, A. - Mappa Humoristico da Europa.

A really unusual and lovely map, published in Portugal at the outbreak of The Great War in 1914. This outbreak of war in Europe was the result of a complex sequence of events, and longer term factors. Humorous satirical maps such as this example were produced for a popular audience, and synthesized the road to war in a graphic single visual image.
The protagonist states are represented by animals reflecting an aspect of their behavior or their heritage, play out the political situation by either biting and clawing their neighbors, or warily watch on.

There is a numerical designation of nation key (1-21) in the upper left corner, below the title. Map is 'signed' by A. Soares; third edition.