Brussels International Map Collectors' Circle

Links to cartographic web sites

Cartographic gateways

MapHistory - The History of Cartography

The gateway to the history of cartography. Old maps, early maps — non-current maps in general — are the subject of this site. Use this site to find the worthwhile information about old maps, both on the web and in the real world. The site's 100 pages offer comment and guidance, and over 3 000 annotated links — selected for relevance and quality.

http://www.maphistory.info/

Maphist

MapHist is an e-mail discussion group on the history of cartography whose primary focus is historical maps, atlases, globes and other cartographic documents. The list is open to all persons interested in the history of cartography and discussion is encouraged on all aspects of this broad subject.

http://www.maphist.nl/

Oddens' Bookmarks - The Fascinating World of Maps and Mapping (no longer maintained!)

This portal site has over 22 500 cartographic links, from map sellers to cartographic collections, from geographical societies to libraries with maps from all over the world. Also offers lists with cartography related exhibitions and events.

http://oddens.geog.uu.nl/index.html

The Internet Archive

As books become old and begin to fall apart, librarians depend on microform to preserve their content for the future. While microfilm is perfect for storing and protecting this material, it is a does not allow for much access. In following its mission to provide universal access to all human knowledge, the Internet Archive is teaming up with libraries all over the world to begin digitizing microfilm and microfiche. The books in this collection are from a variety of libraries including the University of Chicago Libraries, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Alberta, and the National Technical Information Service. This service provides an unique opportunity to search for cartography related books (in pdf format) that are nowadays hard to find.

http://www.archive.org

Libraries and official institutions

The British Library Map Collections

The focal point of the British Library Map Collections is the Map Library which provides access to maps, atlases and globes of all parts of the world dating back to the fifteenth century. It also acts as a Library-wide advisory service for cartographic materials dating back to the early medieval period.

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/maps/

Royal Library of Belgium - Maps and plans section

On this site publications about the history of cartography of Belgium can be consulted.

http://www.kbr.be/collections/cart_plan/cart_plan_nl.html (Dutch edition)

http://www.kbr.be/collections/cart_plan/cart_plan_fr.html (French edition)

The Walloon on-line cartographic library and gateway

http://patrimoine.met.wallonie.be/Cartothèque/

Royal Library of the Netherlands - Cartographical collection

Overview of all the collections of the Dutch Royal Library.

http://www.kb.nl/skd/karto.html

Bodleian Library - Map Room

The Map Room houses the world's seventh largest collection of maps. Well over one million sheet maps and 20 000 atlases are available to readers. The collections include early examples of cartography, such as the fourteenth century Gough Map, portolan charts, estate maps and many atlases.

http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/guides/maps/

National Library of France

Very extensive website of the Bibliothèque nationale de France with entrances to several historical documents.

http://gallica.bnf.fr/

National Library of France Cartography Portal site

Website of the National Library of France on cartography. It offers several possibilities for linking out: links to cartographic sites in general, links to libraries and institutions with large map collections, links to websites on the history of cartography, links to contemporary maps viewers such as Google Earth, and links to current expositions on cartography.

http://signets.bnf.fr/html/categories/c_912cartographie.html

Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA),
Tervuren, Belgium

The Research Institute and particularly his Department of History and General Scientific Services has an important cartographic collection: some 3 000 maps of Africa from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. The maps from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries concern Congo during the colonial period.

http://www.africamuseum.be/

See also the Treasure of the month page that, in August 2005, showed a Ptolemaïc Map of Africa (1535): http://www.africamuseum.be/museum/treasures/museum/treasures/ptolemaic%20map.

International Cartographic Association

ICA is the world authoritative body for cartography, the discipline dealing with the conception, production, dissemination and study of maps. Its mission is to promote the discipline and profession of cartography in an international context. Also organizers of international cartographic conferences.

http://cartography.tuwien.ac.at/ica/

Geographic Institute of Catalunya (Spain)

Information on the cartographic studies and cartographical activities by the Catalunian Geographical Institute.

http://www.icc.es/web/content/en/common/cartoteca/inici_cartoteca_ciutada.html

Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche Groupe des Cartothécaires de LIBER

Website of the European Map Curator's Group. Information of conferences being held and progress reports of activities can be found on this website.

http://www.kb.nl/skd/karto.html

Cartography and Map History - Kartographie und Kartengeschichte

Portal site on Maps and Cartography of the Swiss Federal Institue of Technology in Zurich. Special interest in cartography of Switzerland.

http://www.maps.ethz.ch/index_EN

Britain digital historic map archive

This website provides online access to Britain's most extensive digital historical map archive which is jointly owned by Landmark and Ordnance Survey, Britain's national mapping agency.

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/

Map library of the University of Texas (USA)

Maps from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection can be viewed online. Maps from all over the world (with special interest in maps of Texas).

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html

New York Public Library Digital Gallery

The New York Public Library Digital Gallery provides access to over 275 000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, printed ephemera, and more. The map section contains hundreds of maps of North America from the earliest printed portrayals to the close of the nineteenth century; multiple versions and editions allow for historical comparisons. All maps can be looked at in detail and come with a extensive cartobibliography.

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm

Highlights and behind-the-scenes view of the New York Library Map Collection

Video that provides a behind-the-scenes snapshot of the collection of The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division of the New York Library, which is the largest public library map collection in the world. Established in 1898, the Map Division today holds some 431,000 maps, 16,000 atlases and books about cartography. The collection is international in scope, and dates from the 16th century to the present, with a focus on cities.

http://www.nypl.org/news/treasures/index.cfm?vidid=3

Newberry Library, Chicago (USA)

As one of the world's leading independent research libraries, the Newberry Library's collection embraces the history and literature of the civilizations of Western Europe and the Americas from the Middle Ages through World War I. For many fields, notably Chicago history, genealogy and local history, cartography, and printing, there are also rich sources for the twentieth century. The collection numbers some 1.5 million books, five million manuscript pages, and 300 000 historic maps.

http://www.newberry.org/collections/mapoverview.html

Map library of the University of Georgia (USA)

The Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Georgia maintains a collection of more than 800 historic maps spanning nearly 500 years, from the sixteenth century through the early twentieth century. The collection provides a graphic resource upon which scholars can draw in re-discovering the minds and movements of early American explorers, revolutionary statesmen, cultural figures and politicians represented by the library's book and manuscript collections.

http://scarlett.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/maps.html

National Library of Scotland: Maps of Scotland

The largest map collection in Scotland with around two million cartographic items. These include over 1.5 million sheet maps, 15 000 atlases, 100 000 maps on microfilm and more than 250 000 digital maps. The Library's holdings cover all parts of the world, through some 700 years, from medieval manuscript maps to current digital mapping. Over 4 000 high resolution images of early maps of Scotland and related texts can be consulted: maps of Scotland (1560-1928), Pont's Maps of Scotland (1583-c.1596), military maps of Scotland (eighteenth century); Ordnance Survey town plans (1847-1895) and Blaeu's Atlas of Scotland (1654). The Library also features a Scottish Map Forum wich publishes a free newsletter Cairt that can be downloaded.

http://www.nls.uk/collections/maps/index.html

Krigsarkivet (The Military Archives of Sweden)

Archives dating from the 16th century until present times. Maps from all over the world.

http://www.riksarkivet.se

Cartographic journals and editors

IMCoS Journal

Journal of the International Map Collectors' Society. This contains a calendar of events, articles on various aspects of mapping, a selection of the papers presented at IMCoS Symposia, summaries of meetings, book reviews, exhibition news, letters to the editor, reports from International Representatives, messages from the society officers and advertisements.

http://www.imcos.org/

Imago Mundi, The International Journal for the History of Cartography

Imago Mundi is the only English-language scholarly periodical devoted exclusively to the history of maps, mapping and map-related ideas. It deals with all facets of the history and interpretation of maps and mapmaking in any part of the world, at any period. The journal is now multi-disciplinary and over the last few years Imago Mundi has carried the insights of geographers, historians, art historians, historians of science, social scientists, and literary scholars.

http://www.maphistory.info/imago.html

ISSN 0308-5694

Cartographica Helvetica

Cartographica Helvetica is a communication tool between scholars, map collectors and dealers. It aims to provide information on every aspect of early maps, their history as well as production methods. It is published in German (with English and French Summaries of the feature articles). However, the themes are international in scope. The articles deal with both Swiss and international maps and mapmakers.

http://www.kartengeschichte.ch/ch/d-main.html

Caert-Thresoor, the Dutch Cartographic Journal

Caert-Thresoor is the only magazine published in the Netherlands to devote its efforts to the history of cartography. The articles pay attention to various aspects of historical cartography, such as plans of towns, fortifications and gardens, developments in styles of decoration and activities of individual mapmakers, engravers and publishers. Room is available for contributions on Dutch maps collections and for announcements of findings of unusual items. Generally, each issue contains two or three articles, reviews, news and announcements — Varia Cartographica — and listings of new literature and facsimile's. The language of publication is Dutch, articles have a summary in English.

http://www.maphist.nl/ct/english.html

Cartographica Neerlandica

http://www1.orteliusmaps.com/

Terrae Incognitae

Annually published journal for the history of discoveries, edited by Prof. David Buisseret (University of Texas). The journal contains articles and book reviews on this subject written by several eminent authors on the field. Some articles of current and previous issues can be consulted online.

http://www.sochistdisc.org/terrae_incognitae/terrae-incognitae.htm

Specialist Antique Maps Magazine

This is a new magazine intended to promote interest in and study of old maps, catering for the novice and the experienced collector by providing articles at all levels of interest and expertise. Principal features are: The Map Collectors' Circle Series', collations of atlases, cartographical curiosities and items of ephemera, map libraries, dealer's profiles, reader's services, on-going files of useful information and reviews of new books relating to Historical Cartography. Fifteen issues have been published on the net.

http://www.mapforum.com/

Worlwide History of Cartography Project

The History of Cartography Project is a research, editorial, and publishing venture drawing international attention to the history of maps and mapping. The Project's major work is the multi-volume History of Cartography series. Its inter-disciplinary approach brings together scholars in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Organized by region and time period, the History of Cartography looks at maps in the context of the societies that made and used them.

http://www.geography.wisc.edu/histcart/

The Portolan - Journal of the Washington Map Society

The Portolan, published thrice-yearly, was established to keep members informed of upcoming meetings, exhibitions, seminars and conferences; to provide listings of new books dealing with the history of cartography; and to provide information of specific interests to the membership. It has grown to nearly 80 pages, with original research and articles of interest to subscribers and institutions worldwide. An index and contents listing is at the website.

http://home.earthlink.net/~docktor/portolan.htm

ISSN 1096-1925

Mercator's World

Published between 1995 and April 2003

discontinued

ISSN 1086-6728

Cartographic associations

Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers) is the Learned Society representing Geography and geographers. The Map Room of the Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers) contains one of the largest private collections of maps and related material in the world: the one million sheets of maps and charts, 2 600 atlases, 40 globes (as gores or mounted on stands) and 700 gazetteers comprising the core of the Map Room's material form probably the world's largest private map collection.

http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Collections/Collections.htm

IMCoS, The International Map Collectors' Society

The International Map Collectors' Society — IMCoS — is for people who love maps. They are a not for profit organisation, based in London serving an expanding list of around 750 members from all over the world. IMCoS is the world's leading map society, recognised everywhere for its unique contribution to map collecting and collectors. IMCoS also encourages the study of cartographic history. Members include collectors, dealers, librarians, academics and just plain dabblers.

http://www.imcos.org/

International Coronelli Society

The International Coronelli Society is devoted to the scientific investigation of questions relating to old and antique terrestrial and celestial globes, armillary spheres and planetaria, and the publication of the results of these investigations. Included in its activities are matters such as the drawing up of inventories, conservation and restoration work, research into the producers, and questions related to the use, of globes.

http://www.coronelli.org/index_e.html

Washington Map Society

The purpose of the Washington Map Society is to support and promote map collecting, cartography, and cartographic history. Since 1979 the Society has grown tremendously and our membership now includes current and former employees of Federal, state, and private map repositories; collectors with scholarly knowledge gained through years of study; individuals who enjoy selling maps — both old and new; and many members who simply love to learn about or collect maps.

http://home.earthlink.net/~docktor/washmap.htm

The Society for the History of Discoveries

This society was formed to stimulate interest in teaching, research, and publishing the history of geographical exploration. The scope of the Society's activities encompasses the discovery, exploration, and mapping of the earth's land and sea surface from earliest times to the present. Fields of specialization include the history of European expansion, cartography, navigation, colonial settlement, biography, and bibliography. The Society publishes Terrae Incognitae, a journal of research papers and book reviews, volumes in the series Studies in the History of Discovery and a spring Newsletter which reports on activities of the Society's members and general news related to the history of cartography, discovery, and exploration. This website has also a lot of interesting weblinks to other cartographical websites.

http://www.sochistdisc.org/

Defence Surveyors' Association

The Defence Surveyors' Association, or DSA, is a registered charity whose principal objectives are:

• To maintain a permanent liaison between serving and retired personnel, both military and civilian who work or who have worked in the defence domain where the focus is environmental information, hydrographic, oceanographic and geographic surveys, locating and target acquisition, navigation, and geospatial intelligence.
• To keep abreast of current issues of interest to this professional community.
• To recognise the most significant contributions within this community by both members of the Armed Forces and civilians through the award of annual prizes.

Topics covered by historical documents available on the Web site:

• World War I
• World War II
• SMS Precis - The tables list precis in use at the School of Military Survey in the period up to 1989.
• Military Survey Unit Histories
  • 13 Field Survey Squadron RE - A short history of the Squadron transcribed from the Souvenir Programme for the 150th anniversary of the formation of the unit.
  • 14 Field Survey Squadron RE - A short history of 14 Fd Svy Sqn RE 1825-1975.
  • 19 Topographic Squadron RE - A brief history of 19 Topo Sqn RE 1827-1977.
• Other Survey Unit Histories - Some documents refering to specific survey units have been included in this site but filed under the chronological periods covered by the unit histories.
• 250 Years of Military Survey - A history by Yolande Hodson and Alan Gordon published in 1997 to mark the 250th anniversary of Military Survey.
• Early Aeronautical Charts - This note highlights an episode in the fairly recent history of military mapping and charting for which the post First World War requirement for civil aeronautical charting was the catalyst.
• GSGS Mapping - A short explanation and an index to GSGS Mapping.

http://www.defencesurveyors.org.uk/archives

Others

A book: Antique Maps

Online version of the book by Carl Moreland and David Bannister. Chapters on the history of mapmaking, on works of mapmakers of different nationalities and on map collecting can viewed without charge. A very useful reference work and introduction into the subject of maps and map collecting.

Phaidon Press Limited

140 Kensington Church Street

London W8 4BN

First paperback edition 1993

Third edition 1989

Originally published by Longman 1983

© Carl Moreland and David Bannister 1983

ISBN 07148 2954

http://www.antiquemaps.co.uk/book/introduction.asp

History of maps

Brief overview of the history of maps starting from maps created in Ancient civilizations to the magnificent maps of Gerard Mercator. The map making qualities of the Greek and Arabic world are more extensively discussed.

http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Cartography.html

History of Cartography

A historical cartographical time-line. This richly illustrated website covers the history of European, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian cartography in great detail. It also has a technical section on how maps were produced.

http://www.phil.uni-passau.de/histhw/tutcarto/index_eng.html

Cartography - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

With a list of cartographers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartography

Celestial Maps

Atlascoelestis is a website on celestial maps and atlases from the 15th until the 20th century. Several celestial maps of astronomers as Piccolimi, Gallucci, Bayer, Cellarius, Hevelius, Doppelmayer, Flamsteed, Bode and Argelander can be consulted in detail. Individual star constellation as well as complete planispheres are included for further reference. The website is in Italian but also features an introduction to the subject in French.

http://www.atlascoelestis.com

Kunstpedia

Kunstpedia is a database with articles on the fine and decorative arts, with the exception of contemporary art. The aim of the knowledge base is to stimulate the interest in the fine and decorative arts in general and offer exposure to the authors and/or the institute or company they represent. A Kunstpedia blog on maps was started where interesting articles on various map related subjects are posted by distinguished map experts as for example Francis Herbert, Mary Pedley and Tony Campbell.

http://www.kunstpedia.com/categories/Books%2C-Manuscripts-and-Maps/Maps/

Maps on Africa

The Afriterra Foundation is a non-profit Cartographic Library and Archive assembling and preserving the original rare maps of Africa in a definitive place for education and interpretation. Their searchable database contains more than 1400 maps focused on Africa, more than 1000 ultra-high-resolution digitized images, and over 1100 unique Creators (a Creator or Contributor is a person or organization that contributed to the creation and/or publication of a map).

http://www.afriterra.org/

National Archives of the former French Colonies

Online access to The National Archives of Aix-en-Provence in France. This database contains photographs, postcards, posters, drawings, plans of fortresses and maps related to the first and second French colonial empires (17th - mid 20th century). A vast amount of information on the French colonies in Indochine, Madagascar, Africa and North America is available in these archives. The database can be searched by author, printer, editor, region, title, year of publication and a detailed description of each document is provided.

http://caom.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/sdx/ulysse/index

The Cassini map maker dynasty and the Cassini Map of France

This website focuses on the cartographical achievements of the Cassini’s, one of the most famous map maker families of 17th and 18th century France. Biographical information, cartographical realisations, the science of 18th century map making and the making of the complete map of France for King Louis XV are described in detail. Moreover, it is possible to search for present locations and borders on the late 18th century map of France made by César-François Cassini de Thury.

http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/index.htm

The Medieval Gough Map

Interactive online version of the celebrated medieval ‘Gough Map’ of Great Britain. The original map is held in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. It probably dates from the fourteenth century but neither the identity of its author or its exact origins are known.

As well as seeing a digital version of the Gough Map you will also be able to identify the features that the map shows, such as towns and cites, roads and rivers, and study historical data relating to these places.

http://www.qub.ac.uk/urban_mapping/gough_map/

Atlas de Trudaine (Road atlas of France in the eighteenth century)

This website of the National Archives of France offers a collection of more than 3 000 manuscript maps (62 volumes) of the roads and country side of France in the eighteenth century made by Charles Daniel Trudaine between 1745 and 1780.

Each volume covers one or more parts of France according to the election regions under the Ancien Régime. Every map is accompanied by a short description and can be looked at with great detail (website in French).

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/documentation/archim/atlasdetrudaine.htm

Maps of Croatia

Website in English and German with a large collections of Croatia maps. A small picture of every map can be viewed and a description containing map maker, date and historical background of the map and mapmaker accompanies every map of this private collection.

http://www.felbar.com/de/index.asp

Maps for US genealogists

Ancestry.com features several hundred historical maps from all areas of the world, including helpful jurisdictional maps for every U.S. state.

http://search.ancestry.com/search/category.aspx?cat=44

Denmark on the world map - An exhibition with maps on-line

E-exhibition of the Kongelige Bibliotek in Copenhagen. Denmark on the worldmap shows a picture of the history of danish mapping and the many maps produced during 500 years. From ancient to modern mapping of Denmark.

http://www2.kb.dk/kb/dept/nbo/kob/danmarkskort//eng.forsidetop.htm

Maps of Paris (1716-1887)

Columbia professor Barry Bergdoll's slide show of maps of Paris between 1716 and 1887.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/arthistory/courses/parismaps/

Library of Congress - Geography and Maps - An illustrated guide

http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/guide/

Cartographic Images

Hundreds of pictures of ancient, medieval and reniassance maps can be viewed online. Also features a timeline of cartography, articles on the maps depicted and several weblinks to other cartographical sites.

http://www.henry-davis.com/MAPS/

University of Wisconsin - The History of Cartography Project

http://www.geography.wisc.edu/histcart/

Library of Congress - American Map Collections: 1500-2004

The Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress holds more than 4.5 million items, of which Map Collections represents only a small fraction, those that have been converted to digital form. Map Collections is organized according to seven major categories: cities and towns, cultural landscapes, conservation and environment, military battles and campaigns, discovery and exploration, transportation and communication and general maps.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gmdhome.html

France in America / France en Amérique

France in America / France en Amérique is a bilingual digital library made available by the Library of Congress and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. It explores the history of the French presence in North America from the first decades of the sixteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century.

Through direct digital access to complete books, maps, prints, and other documents from the collections of the partner libraries, the project illuminates the role played by France in the exploration and settlement of the continent and its participation in several events which indelibly marked the history of the United States like the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the Louisiana Purchase. Among unique items available on the sites are versions of Samuel de Champlain's Voyages, Jacques Marquette's account of his voyage in North America in 1673 and Theodor de Bry's late sixteenth century illustrations of native Indian villages. The website of the Bibliothèque Nationale contains even additional cartographical documents such as the collection of North-America maps by the French cartographer d’Anville.

http://gallica.bnf.fr/dossiers/html/dossiers/FranceAmerique/fr/default.htm (Bibliothèque Nationale de Fance website) http://international.loc.gov/intldl/fiahtml/fiahome.html (Library of Congress website)

Brief History of Maps and Cartography

A short introduction into the history of cartography by James Aber.

http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/map/h_map/h_map.htm

Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection

The Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Georgia maintains a collection of more than 800 historic maps spanning nearly 500 years, from the sixteenth century through the early twentieth century. The collection provides a graphic resource upon which scholars can draw in re-discovering the minds and movements of early American explorers, revolutionary statesmen, cultural figures and politicians represented by the library's book and manuscript collections.

http://scarlett.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/maps.html

The Ryhiner Map Collection

The Ryhiner map collection of the University Library of Berne is one of the most valuable and outstanding collections of the world. It consists of more than 16 000 maps, charts, plans and views from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, covering the whole globe. Together with the 20 000 manuscript maps of the State Archives, the Canton of Berne owns not only a local, but a worldwide geographical memory. (Also in German available)

http://biblio.unibe.ch/stub/ryhiner/

Map of Mexico by Alonso de Santa Cruz

Virtual reconstruction of a Mexico map of 1550 (kept at the University of Uppsala) made by Alonso de Santa Cruz, the royal geographer of king Charles V. This map is considered to be one of the most valuable documents from the early colonial history of the city of Mexico. You are able to view every aspect of the map in great detail by moving the digital camera yourself. Moreover, diminutive pictograms reveal themselves whilst myriad sources of information become available.

http://cipher.uiah.fi/mexico_new/

Finland 500 years on the map of Europe

The e-version of the exhibition Finland 500 years on the Map of Europe commissioned by the Museum of central Finland in Jyväskylä. The exhition displays through the information provided by the evolution of maps how Finland developed from a sparsely inhabited and remote Swedish province into a developed European state during a period lasting half a millenium.

http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/mapseng.html

Seventeenth century maps of major northeastern French cities

This work is a collection of ten volumes of maps in three books detailing the cities in the Artois, Flanders, Luxembourg regions which were acquired as fiefdoms by the French monarchy. It was compiled by Sebastien de Pontault de Beaulieu, (? - 1674) who was Louis XIV's highest general and a geographer.

http://edb.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/exhibit-e/f07/f07cont.html

Historic Cities

This site contains maps, literature, documents, books and other relevant material concerning the past, present and future of historic cities and facilitates the location of similar content on the web.

http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/historic_cities.html

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection

This online collection focuses on eighteenth and nineteenth century North and South American cartographic materials. The site provides very sophisticated, high-resolution access to images of representative examples from the collection, and has an excellent search facility to locate maps in the collection.

http://www.davidrumsey.com/

Historic maps and views of Holland

A website by the University of Groningen on historic maps by Dutch Cartographers. Following works can be seen: Toonneel der Steden (Blaeu), Maps of Holland (Janssonius 1658), De Vyerighe Colom (Jacob Aertsz. Colom) and views from Braun and Hogenberg's Civitates orbis terrarum.

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~maps/

The Texas Map Society's Neatline

Neatline, a publication of the Texas Map Society is printed twice a year and mailed to members. Current and previous numbers can now be read online.

http://libraries.uta.edu/ccon/

The Blaeu Atlas of Scotland (1654) online

The first Atlas of Scotland, containing 49 engraved maps and 154 pages of descriptive text can be looked into. Both maps and translated texts are available online.

http://www.nls.uk/maps/atlas/blaeu/

Blaeu's Theatrum orbis terrarum (Atlas novus) volume I online

Willem Janszoon and Joan's Blaeu first volume (Germany, Scandinavia, Netherlands) of the Atlas novus can be viewed on this site form the university of California (UCLA).

http://www.library.ucla.edu/yrl/reference/maps/blaeu/

Ortelius on the web

Both the sites of the University of Amsterdam and Marcel van den Broecke are excellent online sources on all the maps (and texts) of Ortelius different atlases.

http://www.orteliusmaps.com/

The Cartography of Brazil (1700-1822)

This website offers a systematic inventory and description of all the manuscript and printed maps at the National Library of Brazil related to eighteenth-century Brazil. The digital catalogue can be searched based on map title, author, date, region and/or typology of the map. Every catalogued map is accompanied by an extensive description with bibliography and a digital picture.

http://purl.pt/103/1/index.html

Map Fairs

Website dedicated to the Map Fairs of London, Denver, Paris, Breda and Miami. Also includes a virtual Map Fair.

http://map-fair.com/

International Antiquarian Mapsellers Association (IAMA)

The main purpose of this organization is to promote the professional trade in antiquarian, collectible maps and related books. The website has a special section for collectors on reference books and offers information on maps fairs.

http://www.antiquemapdealers.com/

Caring for your map collection

This series of IMCos bulletins is designed to provide guidance on all aspects of collecting and conserving early maps and prints.

http://www.imcos.org/

Discoverer's Web

Probably the most comprehensive link list on the Internet for sites about voyages of discovery and exploration. Very intelligently sorted by period, region and numerous user-friendly subheadings.

http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/discovery/

The James Ford Bell Library

The James Ford Bell Library is a collection of 15 000 rare books, 2 500 maps, and 2 500 manuscripts from the period 1400-1800, documenting the expansion of Europe. The website includes high resolution images of many fine historical maps.

http://bell.lib.umn.edu/

Maps from the Library of Congress

The Geography and Map Division (G&M) of the Library of Congress has custody of the largest and most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world with collections numbering over 4.8 million maps including 65 000 atlases, 6 000 reference works, over 350 globes, and numerous plastic relief models, and a large number of cartographic materials in other formats, including electronic.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/

Yale Map Collection

The Yale Map Collection has the largest collection of maps in Connecticut and one of the largest university collections in the United States. Its collections are geographically comprehensive and consist of over 200 000 map sheets, 3 000 atlases, and 900 reference books. Many of these maps can be viewed online.

http://www.library.yale.edu/MapColl/index.htm

Popp's cadastral maps of Hainaut and Liège

Website on the old cadastral maps of Hainaut and Liège made by the Dutch-German cartograph Popp between 1842 and 1879. Offers all documentation needed for genealogical and historical study of this area since each map is accompanied by a cadastral matrix that lists every owner of the region depicted on the map. Website in French with Dutch and English summary.

http://www.artthemis.be/plan-popp/index.php

Le Comité Français de Cartographie (CFC)

The CFC's goal is to contribute to the development of cartographical methods and techniques and to stimulate research and exchange in this field, both on a national and international level. The CFC publishes several publications on cartography (Le Monde des Cartes, CFC Newsletter) and organises conferences and study days on topics related to cartography. This website also features interesting links to other cartography sites.

http://www.lecfc.fr

La Mer, terreur et fascination: cartography of seas and islands

This site is part of the exhibition La Mer, terreur et fascination hosted at the French National Library (BnF) from 13 October 2004 until 16 January 2005. The Maps section contains pictures and short historical and cartographical descriptions of European and Arabic mappamundi, T-O maps, portolans, Ptolemy's Cosmographia and the Catalan Atlas. The Island section shows and describes the depiction of islands in several historical documents like Medieval manuscripts, Ortelius' Parergon and the sea atlas of Bellin.

http://expositions.bnf.fr/lamer/index.htm

Riccardia Library, Firenze, Italy

Images from Braun & Hogenberg's Civitates orbis terrarum, Joan Blaeu's Theatrum Civitatum Italiae and Van Linschoten's Itinerario can be consulted on the website of the Riccardia Library in Firenze.

http://www.istitutodatini.it/biblio/images/it/riccard/10939/htm/10941vI.htm

Northwestern University Library: maps of Africa

This site features digital copies of 113 antique maps of Africa and accompanying text dating from the mid 16th Century to the early 20th Century. The collection can be searched by title, cartographer, date and place of publication and by region.

http://www.library.northwestern.edu/govinfo/collections/mapsofafrica/

Maps of the Holy Land from the Eran Laor Collection

This collection of ancient maps of the Holy Land is part of the Jewish National & University Library collection. Maps on the subject of the Holy Land can be searched by cartographer, region and by date. Website can be consulted in Hebrew or English.

http://www.jnul.huji.ac.il/dl/maps/pal/html/

WatWasWaar.nl

This website is a national platform for historical-geographical information in the Netherlands. The website brings you all kind of information about every location in the country. The website enables you to find (military) maps, images and family history by searching through time and place. Mainly there are two ways to explore the site; free roaming and by filtering / using queries. Website in Dutch with English introduction.

http://watwaswaar.nl/

Weblog Joost Depuydt

Joost Depuydt is curator of maps, drawings and prints of the FelixArchief (StadsArchief) of Antwerp. Joos Depuydt’s blog on the world of cartography keeps you up to date: it contains announcements on cartographical conferences and brings interesting news and facts on historical and modern cartography. The archives of this blog can also be searched for relevant information.

http://mapsandmore.wordpress.com/

Digital images of maps by Italian Cartographers

On Mapsandimages you are allowed to access high resolution images of maps from several atlases (mainly from the 19th century) by Italian cartographers. The database can be searched by region, by cartographer, by atlas or by century the map was made in. Currently 613 images belonging to 15 atlases and 9 large scale maps, are already on line and it is also possible to buy digital files or order typographical prints of your favorite image.

http://www.mapsandimages.it/eMaps/main.htm

Terres de Champagne-Ardenne - Cinq siècles de cartographie

The municipal library of Sedan (France) is a partner of the virtual exhibition of the Champagne-Ardenne region : Terres de Champagne-Ardenne - Cinq siècles de cartographie.

http://www.bm-sedan.fr/MASC25/

Les plans cadastraux de Savoie en ligne (1728-1988)

Les différents cadastres couvrant l'actuel département de la Savoie

• Le cadastre sarde (1728-1738) est le plus ancien cadastre européen cartographié. Il concerne toutes les communes de Savoie. Ces plans cadastraux sont appellés « mappes ». Pour les quelques communes dont il manque la copie aquarellée, vous trouverez une reproduction de la mappe originale. - Les mappes originales, ont été dressées sur le terrain, elles sont tracées au crayon. - Les mappes aquarellées sont des copies des mappes originales.
• Les cartes tirées du cadastre sarde ont été dressées avec un outil de système d’information géographique (SIG). Deux cartes sont proposées pour chaque commune : la première représente la nature des parcelles (bâti, champ, vigne, pâturage, bois, etc.) ; la seconde indique les toponymes anciens (noms des mas et lieux-dits usités au XVIIIe siècle). 87 mappes ont ainsi été traitées et le programme se poursuit pour les autres communes.
• Le cadastre napoléonien (1809) n’a été réalisé en Savoie que pour les cantons d’Albertville, de Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny et d’Aiguebelle, soit 32 anciennes communes.
• Le premier cadastre français (1862-1945) concerne toutes les communes de Savoie. Cependant la collection n’est pas complète et certaines feuilles ou tableaux d’assemblage manquent.
• Le cadastre rénové (1933-1975) concerne 152 communes. Les plans de l’ancien arrondissement de Moûtiers n’ont pas été conservés par les services d’origine, ils se trouvent en principe en copie dans les communes.
• Enfin, la mise à jour de 1988 des cadastres rénovés entre 1933-1975 ne concerne que 77 communes autour de Chambéry.

http://www.savoie-archives.fr/index.php?id=1233

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