map of the world

Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula

Regions and Seasons: In Greek mythology, the Horae – a group of three rain-giving goddesses – ruled over natural order and the seasons, and through their gift of water from the heavens they brought agricultural... More

[World map by Ptolemy] - Public domain vintage map

Illus. in: Claudii Ptholemei Alexandrini philosophi Cosmographia. Rome : Arnoldus Buckinck, 10 Oct. (VI Idus Octobris) 1478. Published in: The tradition of technology : Landmarks of Western technology ... / Le... More

The world - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

The classical Greek and Roman world view is known to us through the writings of Claudius Ptolemy, a 2nd century A.D. astronomer, mathematician, and geographer who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. Although his origin... More

Circular world map - Public domain vintage map

The circular world map that appeared in the 1475 Latin edition of ''Rudimentum Novitorium'' and its subsequent French translations is considered the first printed map of the world. Drawn in the tradition of Med... More

Secunda etas mundi = Secunda etas mũdi

Although published just as news of Christopher Columbus's discoveries was beginning to spread, this was the last noteworthy world map to be produced without any indication of the New World. This depiction of th... More

Uniuersalior cogniti orbis tabula ex recentibus confecta obseruationib...

In 1507, the same year that Martin Waldseemüller issued three works announcing the existence of a new continent which he named America, Johann Ruysch published a totally different world map. This rendition, wh... More

World map - Public domain vintage map

As the first map printed in two colors, this is a monument to map printing. The place names in capital letters were printed in red ink by means of type set into the woodblocks. The decorative windheads, zodiaca... More

[The World] - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

Ptolemaic world map Courtesy of Boston Public Library

[World map] - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

The winds, known collectively as Venti, have long been viewed as both bringers of good fortune and sources of chaos. In ancient Greece and Rome, the winds were seen as personas; gods who brought favorable or di... More

Martin Waldseemu Ller - Orbis typus uniuersalis iuxta hydrographorum t...

Waldseemüller may have had second thoughts about his 1507 proposal for naming the new continent "America." In 1513, he issued a fourth publication, a new edition of Claudius Ptolemy's Geographia. In it he incl... More

Small circular world map - Public domain vintage map

Apian, a noted German mathematician, astronomer and geographer, compiled several geographical publications during the first half of the 16th century. His work displayed various iterations of the American contin... More

[The World] - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

Regions and Seasons: The winds, collectively known as Venti, have long been viewed as both bringers of good fortune and sources of chaos. In ancient Greece and Rome, the winds were seen as personas; gods who br... More

World map - Public domain map engraving

Bordonne, a cartographer and engraver working in Venice, was best known for his isolario or book of islands. First published in 1528, his book included 111 wood cut maps of islands. The world map, a simple outl... More

Noua, et integra vniuersi orbis descriptio

Fine, an eminent French cartographer, created this unique double cordiform or heart-shaped projection, emphasizing the northern and southern hemispheres. The European, Asian and African continents were prominen... More

Typus cosmographicus uniuersalis - Public domain old map

Decorated with sea monsters, mermaids, exotic animals, and cannibals, this wood cut map provides a marked contrast to the simplistic diagrams considered the earliest printed world maps. While the latter present... More

Typus orbis descriptione Ptolemaei - Public domain map

Relief shown pictorially. Woodcut that appears in edition of Ptolemy's Geographia published in 1541. Includes illustrations of winds. LC copy stamped on in lower left corner: 0 674. Mounted on cloth and laminat... More

Tabula noua totius orbis - Public domain map drawing

Relief shown pictorially. Woodcut that appears in an edition of Ptolemy's Geographia published in 1541. Includes illustrations and notes. LC copy stamped on in lower left corner: 0 676. Manuscript "246" in uppe... More

Quam hic vides orbis imagine[m] lector ca[n]dide ea[m] ut posteriore[m...

The Italian engraver and publisher, Antonio Salamanca, produced this finely engraved world map utilizing the double cordiform projection (heart shaped). Salamanca’s engraving was based on a 1538 map published b... More

Die neuwen Inseln, so hinder Hispanien gegen Orient bey dem land India...

Relief shown pictorially. South America labeled in German, geographic features otherwise in Latin. Appears in the author's Cosmographei. Basel, Switzerland. 1550. Available also through the Library of Congress ... More

Typus orbis terrarum, illuminated manuscript, Abraham Ortelius 1527-15...

Ortelius' book of maps, first published in 1570, is considered the first modern world atlas. It was the first time that a set of maps, contemporary to the date of publication, was designed, drawn, and engraved ... More

Americae siue noui orbis, noua descriptio, Abraham Ortelius 1527-1598

Ortelius's map of the Americas was one of the most identifiable and most famous cartographic representations of the western hemisphere created during the Golden Age of Dutch Cartography. It enjoyed great popula... More

Map of the world - Drawing. Public domain image.

Public domain reproduction of art print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

La herdike enterprinse faict par le Signeur Draeck D'Avoir cirquit tou...

Public domain image of a vintage map, geography atlas, maritime navigation, age of discovery, 16th-17th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

Typvs orbis terrarvm - Public domain map engraving

Oval map within illustrated border, showing clouds. Appears in Latin edition of Ortelius's Theatrum orbis terrarum. Includes illustrations. Latin text on verso. In lower left: cum privilegio. Has a crack and re... More

Hemispheriu[m] ab aequinoctiali linea, ad circulu[m] Poli Arctici : He...

During the Golden Age of Dutch Cartography, many world maps were composed of two hemispheres, one for each of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. However, this elaborately decorated world map projected the wor... More

Description du pays armorique à pres Bretaigne.

Scale ca. 1:1,100,000. Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault AACR2: 651/1

Orbis terrarum typus de integro multis in locis emendatus

As was fairly common during the Golden Age of Dutch Cartography, this map projects the world on two hemispheres - Eastern and Western. It was the first richly decorated map of the period and influenced the art ... More

America. Historic map, Library of Congress

Relief shown pictorially. Described in: The mapping of North America / Philip D. Burden. 1996. p. 165. Includes notes, ill., and cartouche with text. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a... More

Europae. Historic map, Library of Congress

Relief shown pictorially. Includes notes, ill., and cartouche with dedicaton and text. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Fold-lined. LC copy imperfect: Margin in upper a... More

Africa. Historic map, Library of Congress

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes notes, ill., and cartouche with text. Fold-lined. LC copy imperfect: Margin in upper and lower left ... More

Nova et rece terraum et regnorum Californae, nouae Hispaiae Mexicanae,...

Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image. Vault

Asia. Historic map, Library of Congress

Relief shown pictorially. Includes notes, ill., and cartouche with text. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Fold-lined. LC copy imperfect: Margin in upper and lower left ... More

Tipus orbis terrarum - Public domain vintage map

Relief shown pictorially. Includes ancillary maps of America, Europe, Africa, and Asia in border. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault

[World map] - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

Regions and Seasons: The winds remained on maps into the 17th century, as illustrated on this 1607 horological diagram, which was used for measuring time. Produced by German mathematician Franz Ritter, this uni... More

Geographica restituta per globi trientes

Displaying the known world of the early 17th century as a triptych, with the map divided into three segments or gores, was very uncommon during the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. However, such a format was co... More

[Sphendonē], hoc est, fvnda Posidonii., engraving, Library of Congress

From Bertius' Ancient Geography. Paris, 1630. In Latin and Greek. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

Noua orbis terrarum delineatio singulari ratione accommodata meridiano...

Public domain image of a vintage map, geography atlas, maritime navigation, age of discovery, 16th-17th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula

Includes two ancillary celestial hemispheres, notes, and illustrations. Map appears in Nicolas Tassin's Cartes generales de tovtes les prouinces de France. LC copy has text in French on three sheets framing the... More

Nova totivs terrarvm orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabvla

Ornately decorated and beautifully colored, this world map epitomizes the baroque style favored during the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. The map was prepared in 1630 by Henricus Hondius, who had joined in pa... More

Noua totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula

First published in 1606, Blaeu's world map is one of the foremost examples of ornamentation and decoration during the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. This map had a long life, and was reissued numerous times, ... More

Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula = Wahre...

Public domain image of a vintage map, geography atlas, maritime navigation, age of discovery, 16th-17th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

Orbis terrarum typus de integro multis in locis emendatus

Includes illustrations of the seasons and the elements, notes, and two celestial hemispheres. Illustrations of costumes: Hispani -- Galli -- Itali -- Germani -- Angli -- Belgae -- Groenlandi -- Chinenses -- Jav... More

Jean Boisseau - America noviter delineata / Historic map, Library of C...

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes insets of north and south polar regions. Acquisitions control no. 3-85

Jean Boisseau - Africae nova tabula / Historic map, Library of Congres...

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes watermark. Acquisitions control no. 6-85

Noua totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula

Ornately decorated and beautifully colored, this world map epitomizes the baroque style favored during the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. The map was prepared in 1630 by Henricus Hondius, who had joined in pa... More

Nova totivs terrarvm orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabvla : carta...

Includes northern and southern celestial hemispheres, charts of longitude, notes, and illustrations of the four elements. LC copy mounted on paper. Shirley, Rodney W. Mapping of the world. 1983, 360 Available a... More

Novvelle et exacte description dv globe terrestre

Includes illustrations of the seasons and the elements, notes, and two celestial hemispheres. According to Shirley, the map is based on one by Visscher, rather than Blaeu. Illustrations of costumes: Francois --... More

[Map with border illus. of cherubs using navigational instruments]

Illus. in: Johannes Hevelius, Selenographie, Gedani, Autoris sumtibus, typis Hünefeldianis, 1647, map between pp. 226-227. No file print. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Caption car... More

Amérique septentrionale / Historic map, Library of Congress

Relief shown pictorially and by shading. Prime meridian: [Paris]. Mounted on cloth backing. From his 1658 (i.e. 1660) Cartes générales de toutes les parties du monde (Phillips 4260). First state: Lacks shading ... More

Charte vniuerselle de tovt le monde - Public domain map

Relief shown pictorially. Includes notes. Illustrations include images of the garden of Eden and the Last Judgment and four allegorical figures in the corners of the sheet. Assembled from 4 sheets. LC copy in t... More

America Septentrionalis / Historic map, Library of Congress

Relief shown pictorially. Appears in v. 3 of Nieuwen atlas, ofte vverelt-beschrijvinge, vertonende de voornaemste rijcken ende landen des gheheelen Aerdt-Bodems. Amstelodami : Apud Ioannem Ianssonium, 1652-3. E... More

Partie meridionale de l'Inde en deux presqu'isles l'une de ç̧à et l'au...

Shows India south of the tropic of Cancer and Southeast Asia, including Indochina, Sumatra, and western Borneo. Relief shown pictorially. Coordinates given from an unidentified prime meridian. Appears in his Ca... More

L'Inde de ç̧à et de là le Gange ou est l'Empire du Grand Mogol et pays...

Relief shown pictorially. Coordinates given from an unidentified prime meridian. Appears in his Cartes generales de toutes les parties du monde, 1658. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as ... More

Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula

Relief shown pictorially. Includes text, 2 ancillary celestial hemispheres, and ill. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Acquisitions control no. 2001-24

Noua orbis terrarum delineatio singulari ratione accommodata meridiano...

In this striking image, the world is portrayed on one full circle (or hemisphere), which is flanked by two half circles. This unusual geometrical configuration is embraced by a double-headed eagle. Realizing th... More

West-Indische paskaert waer in de graden der breedde over weder zijden...

Shows the west coast of North America from Belle Isle, Newfoundland, both coasts of South America, mediterranean Europe, and the east coast of Africa. Includes illustrations. Available also through the Library ... More

Nova totius terrarum orbis tabula - map by Hendrick Doncker 1626-1699

Public domain scan of a vintage world map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Planisphaerium Ptolemaicum siue machina orbium mundi ex hypothesi Ptol...

While most of the maps in this exhibit depict just the Earth -- reflecting mankind's perception of his immediate and perceived environment -- very few address the planet's position in the larger universe. Howev... More

A new and accurat map of the world : drawne according to ye truest des...

New and accvrat map of the world Courtesy of Boston Public Library

[Nova et accuratissima totius terrarum orbis tabula].

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes col. ill. in margins. Vault

Nova Persiæ, Armeniæ, Natoliæ, et Arabiæ /

Systema ideale quo exprimitur, aquarum per canales hydragogos subterra...

Beneath Our Feet: Created by Jesuit priest and scholar Athanasius Kircher, this intriguing map of the earth was included in his 1665 treatise “Mundus Subterraneus.” Kircher’s early theories combined religion an... More

Mappe-monde, ou carte generale du globe terrestre : representée en deu...

Relief shown pictorially. Shows California as an island. LC copy: left half mounted on paper, fold lined. Lightly hand colored to mark continental boundaries and some place names. Shirley, Rodney W. Mapping of ... More

Orbis terrarum nova et accuratissima tabula - Vintage map, Norman B. L...

Regions and Seasons: Allegorical figures of the seasons – both male and female – along with their characteristic symbols, are placed in the lower center of this double-hemisphere world map. Spring with her flow... More

Novissima totius terrarum orbis tabula - Vintage map, Norman B. Levent...

Public domain scan of a vintage world map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Novissima totius terrarum orbis tabula

Shows California as an island. Includes illustrations, including scenes of the four seasons. Ancillary maps and charts: Incrementum et decrementum dierū -- Phasis lunae naturalis -- Hypothesis Tychonican -- Hyp... More

Mediterranean Sea divided into its Principall parts or seas.

Based on La Mer Mediterraneʹe divisee enses Principales Parties, ou Mers by Nicolas Sanson. Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image.

L'Asie, : Selon les nouvelles observations de Mess.rs de l'Academie de...

Relief shown pictorially. Insets maps: Kamchadka to Korea to Indo-China; Beijing, China to Yellow Sea. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

Nova totius terrarum orbis tabula - Public domain map

Relief shown pictorially. Includes two ancillary polar hemispheres and illustrations. LC copy foldlined, with three pin holes in lower margin. Hand coloring to delineate continental boundaries only. Shirley, Ro... More

Guillaume Sanson - Carte nouvelle de la mer mediterranee.

Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image.

Mappa mondo o vero carta generale del globo terestre : rapresentato in...

LC copy lightly hand colored, showing political boundaries only. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

A new mapp of the world - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

Collection of old maps Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Totius Africæ accuratissima tabula /

Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image.

America Settentrionale colle nuoue scoperte fin al'anno 1688, diuisa n...

Relief shown pictorially. Shows California as an island. Appears in the author's Atlante veneto, 1691-1697. Includes notes and illustrations. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster ... More

Orbis terrarum nova et accuratissima tabula - Vintage map, Norman B. L...

As a variation to earlier double hemisphere world maps, Visscher, a mid-17th-century Dutch cartographer, added two smaller spheres to his presentation, with each depicting the northern and southern polar region... More

Orbis terrarum nova et accuratissima tabula /

Relief shown pictorially. Appears in the author's Atlas minor. Amsterdam, 1690? Includes ancillary maps of north polar region and south polar region and col. ill. Mounted on cloth. LC copy imperfect: Fold-lined... More

Amerique septentrionale divisée en ses principales parties /

Based on a map published by Nicolas Sanson in 1650. Latin title in upper margin: "America septentrionalis in suas praecipuas parte divisa, ad usum serenissimi Burgundiae ducis." Relief shown pictorially. Availa... More

Mare mediterraneum, exhibens oras hispaniæ, galliæ, italiæ, mare hadri...

Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image.

Nouus planiglobii terrestris per utrumque polum conspectus

Another variation of the double hemisphere projection was one in which each of the spheres depicted the northern and southern hemispheres, rather than the eastern and western. An example of this polar-oriented ... More

[Hamadaradz Asharhatsuyts] = [Extensive world map] - Vintage map, Norm...

This map is an example of a map from a non-western culture that depicts an Asian world view. Although obviously a hybrid with a strong European influence, this early 18th-century world map was printed entirely ... More

Mappe-monde, dressé sur les observations de mrs. de l'Academie royale ...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes illustrations and 4 small hemispherical polar projections. Appears in Sanson's Atlas nouveau. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. French... More

A new map of the terraqueous globe according to the latest discoveries...

Public domain scan of a vintage world map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Weltkarte des Idrisi vom Jahr 1154 n. Ch., Charta Rogeriana /

Relief shown pictorially. Place names in romanized Arabic. Accompanying text in English. Facsimile. Original version: 1154. Oriented with north to the bottom. Originally printed on 6 sheets, each ca. 47 x 68 cm... More

A new map of South America, shewing it's general divisions, chief citi...

The Nancy globe - Vintage map, Norman B. Leventhal Collection

Public domain image of the vintage map from Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, free to use, no copyright restrictions image. The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library is a special... More

A new map of the terraqueous globe according to the ancient discoverie...

Appears in his New sett of maps both of antient and present geography. Publication information from 1700 edition. Includes illustrations, notes, and list of abbreviations. Lacking "I" underneath dedication, whi... More

Les Isles Britanniques : ou sont le Royaume d'Angleterre tire ́de Sped...

Americam utramque : aliis correctiorem /

Relief shown pictorially. Prime meridian: Ferro. Dedicated to "Iacobo Boreel" by G. van Keulen. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Acquisitions control no. 10-87 Vault

Carte exacte de toutes les provinces, villes, bourgs, villages et rivi...

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes ill. LC copy annotated in ink on verso: 95. Vault

A new map of the terraqueous globe according to the ancient discoverie...

Public domain scan of a vintage world map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Asiae recentissima delineatio, qua status et imperia totius orientis u...

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. LC Copy one has differences in cartouche from Copy 2.

A new and correct map of the world : laid down according to the newest...

Relief shown pictorially. Insets: The northern hemisphere upon the plane of the Equinoctial -- The northern coelestial hemisphere -- A projection of ye world upon equidistant meridians and parallels -- The nort... More

Nova delineatio totius orbis terrarum

Shirley, Rodney W. Mapping of the world. 1983, 417 Relief shown pictorially. Includes illustrations. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Title in Latin and French. Most pl... More

Orbis vetus et orbis veteris utraque continens, terrarumque tractus ar...

Relief shown pictorially. "Cum privilegio regis ad Vicennium 1704." Lacking text directly above and below hemispheres present in other 1704 edition. Shows California as an island. Available also through the Lib... More

Generalis totius imperii Moscovitici : novissima tabula magnam orbis t...

Relief shown pictorially. Scale determined by using graticule method. Early Homann variant of the map by Ides of 1697. Scales: Milliaria Germanica communia; and Werst. [i.e. Versts] sive milliaria Moscovitica. ... More

Orbis vetus et orbis veteris utraque continens, terrarumque tractus ar...

Relief shown pictorially. "Cum privilegio regis ad Vicennium 1704." Includes text directly above and below hemispheres lacking in other 1704 edition. Shows California as an island. Available also through the Li... More

Carte de Tartarie. Historic map, Library of Congress

Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image. 2 copies, copy one annotated with red dots over church symbols. Vault

Le globe terrestre représenté en deux plans-hémisphères : dressé sur l...

Scale ca. 1:35,000,000 at the equator. Hand colored. Relief shown pictorially. Includes text, notes, and ill. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault AACR2

L'Amerique meridionale, dressée sur les observations de Mrs. de l'Acad...

Scale ca. 1:18,500,000. Hand colored. Relief shown pictorially. Prime meridian: Ferro. Imprint date from R. V. Tooley's French mapping of the Americas, item 66. "Je rends raison dans ma Nouvelle introduction a ... More

A new & exact map of the coast, countries and islands within ye limit...