The Homman family became the most important map publishers in Germany in the C18th. The business was established by Johann Baptist in Nuremberg in 1702. Soon after publishing his first atlas in 1707 he became a member of the Berlin academy of Sciences and in 1715 was appointed Geographer to the Emperor. After his death in 1724, the firm continued under the direction of his son until 1730. It was then bequeathed to his heirs on the condition that it continued to trade under the name Homann Heirs.