A book: Antique Maps (Web site no longer maintained! Only accessible via Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
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.
Layers of London is a map-based history website developed by the Institute of Historical Research. Users can access free historic maps of London and contribute stories, memories and histories to create a social history resource about their area.
Layers of London brings together, for the first time, a really important collection of digitised historic maps, photos and crowd-sources histories provided by the public and key partners across London.
Maps, globes, and plans: an ongoing census of free digital archives
This is the title of a series of several episodes, each of which features websites that offer digitized images of old maps. Many of them are already included in our pages. But the episodes mention some characteristics specific to each site such as the periods and geographical areas considered, the access mode, the number of files. It has been prepared by Atelier Ideas & Research (AIR), a non-profit social promotion association, made up of young researchers, which deals with social sciences and humanities. All the information you will find on the site is free.
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.
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.
DONum is a repository of digitized objects developed by the partner institutions of the Bibliothèque Interuniversitaire de la Communauté française (BICfB) of Belgium.
Concretely, DONum brings together the digitized heritage collections within each partner institution. This portal therefore offers a single access point to several thousand digital objects kept in the libraries, archives, documentation centres or services of the various universities of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (Belgium).
These collections present a great diversity: medieval manuscripts, scientific tools, ancient maps, old works, photographs, etc. This diversity reflects the heritage collections of our universities and therefore their history.
To browse these collections, you have of course access to a traditional research tool. We also offer you the opportunity to discover, in the form of thematic virtual exhibitions, some more specific digital collections. Among these, about 450 old maps dating from the 15th to the 20th century are available online.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Denmark on the world map - An exhibition with maps
online
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
The e-version of the exhibition Finland 500 years on
the Map of Europe commissioned by the Museum of
central Finland in Jyväskylä. The exhibition
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 millennium.
Is no longer available.
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.
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.
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.
Image Database Maps & Atlases - University Amsterdam (UvA)
The image database of maps and atlases collection contains images and descriptions of significant and remarkable cartographic documents in the possession of the University Library and are located at the same place (since 1880) the Library and Map Collection of the Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap [Royal Dutch Geographical Society]. Although the collection is rich in modern maps, only old maps are selected (except for a few), mostly from before 1900.
The collection of Maps & Atlases, covering the period from the late fifteenth century to the present day, consists of approximately 135 000 singles (of which approximately 25 000 pre-1800), about 4 500 atlases (of which several hundred pre-1800 ) and dozens of ancient and modern globes. It is part of a much wider conglomerate documents in the library that is known under the old name Geography and Travels.
Most of the collection is to be consulted on the Map Room, which has a reference library with available (historical-) cartographic literature, hand atlases, biographies, bibliographies, periodicals, city records, CD-Roms etc.
The Atlas of Neederlanden (AdN) is one of the highlights of the Special Collections of the Universiteit van Amsterdam. The AdN is a so-called factice atlas: the map collection of a (yet unknown) collector, bound in nine bands.
The AdN is special for several reasons:
All major topographic maps of the current Dutch territory in the period ca 1650-1815 are represented.
The AdN contains 617 maps, which form a nearly complete picture of the Dutch landscape in that period.
The collection contains some unique maps, printed and in manuscript, which are second to none.
The phenomenon atlas factice is now rare. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was not unusual for a variety of maps to be bound into books, but today these atlases usually are taken apart again. The AdN is preserved in book form and is a particular example of an intact early nineteenth century map collection.
Why should the Atlas of Neederlanden now be restored?
The condition of the AdN has long been a concern. Jan Werner, Curator of the Special Collections department, early 2010, launched a project to restore and digitize the AdN. Upon completion of this project in 2013, an important research object will be restored in its former glory, preservation safeguarded for a long time, the contents in detail recorded digitally and archived, the images on the Internet most visible and accessible.
And as the pièce de résistance will the Atlas of Neederlanden shine in 2013 in an exhibition on the Dutch landscape.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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 catalog can
be searched based on map title, author, date, region
and/or typology of the map. Every cataloged map is
accompanied by an extensive description with
bibliography and a digital picture.
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.
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.
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.
Website on the old cadastral maps of Hainaut and
Liège made by the Dutch-German cartographer 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is no longer available.
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.
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.
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.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Collection of Civil War Maps and Nautical Charts
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in 2011, NOAA has assembled a special historical collection of maps, charts, and documents prepared by the U.S. Coast Survey during the war years.
The Ortelius atlas is the first 'modern' world atlas. Abraham Ortelius makes his Theatrum orbis terrarum at the end of the sixteenth century in Antwerp. Ortelius makes redraw a number of existing cards in a standard format and gives them out as a book.
Bibliographia Cartographica – International Documentation of cartographical literature
Since 2007 the map department of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin has made available online the Bibliographia Cartographica (BC), a database listing international scientific literature relating to cartography. The database was created in 1989 in consultation with the working group Bibliography of cartographical literature (Bibliographie des kartographischen Schrifttums) of the German Cartographic Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kartographie - DGfK). Currently, the Bibliographia Cartographica online lists ca. 32 000 articles, published in journals, multi-author works and serials, as well as 5 600 monographs relating to cartography. About 1 500 new titles are added every year. Around 164 international journals are regularly indexed. The Bibliographia Cartographica also provides links to open access online publications.
The last printed version of the Bibliographia Cartographica, volume 34, was published in 2012. Scientific literature published later than 2006 has only been included in the online version, literature published before 1989 should be searched for in the printed editions of the Bibliographia Cartographica.
Chronoscope World is a time machine to explore the history of the world, browsing maps from the thirteenth until the twentieth century. More than 2 000 high-resolution maps can be displayed in a maps application on the correct geographic location. The search command finds the best fitting maps for the current view port. Several libraries have digitized and opened up their map collections, and provide means to use the maps inside the Chronoscope. As a result more than 2.000 high-quality maps from more than 42 institutions have been made available.Results are presented as previews on a map table. All outlines can be displayed at once for a fast overview. Filters can be applied for a time interval, the map scale or the library’s signature. ChronoAtlas is a web portal to access the meta data for historical maps in the collection of Leibnitz Institut für Länderkunde in specific. You can search and filter for any kind of information. Chronoscope World is based on Chronoscope Hamburg by broadening the perspective to the entire planet
