The Netherlands, 1851

Our largest map yet today.


The contributor, Yvette Hoitink, offers the following description:

"This remarkable map shows a view of the coast of the Netherlands. The actual map is about 10 cm (4") wide and 2 meters (7') long. It is used like a scroll. Beneath the scale, it names the maker: George Wilkinson, Cinque Ports Pilot, Superannuated, 23rd Nov. 1851. The map is in English. Please leave a comment if you have more information about this map."

Ms. Hoitink has asked that we link back to the Flickr page containing the map, so here is the link. Many thanks to her for providing this truly remarkable map.

Transylvania, 1566

Another solid map today.


The contributor describes the map as follows:

This is an Ortelius map. For an excellent explanation on these maps, see the website of Marcel van den Broecke, http://www.orteliusmaps.com/index.html

The translations of the text on this map are reproduced from his website with his approval:

This is the map entitled TRANSILVANIA (cartouche bottom left:) HANC VLTRA VEL TRAN/SILVANIAM, QVÆ ET PANNO/DACIA, ET DACIA RIPENSIS, VVL:/GO SIBEMBVRGEN DICITVR,/ edidit Vienne Ao 1566 Nobiliss. atque Doctiss. Ioannes Sambucus Pannonius.

The translation is: “This is Transilvania and beyond Transylvania, also called Panno-Dacia and Dacia Ripens, vulgarly called Siebenbergen, drawn in Vienna in the year 1566 by the very noble and learned Ioannes Sambucus from Pannonia”.

Centre bottom: Vallis Hatzag Vbi olim ciuitas Sarmisgethusa. Translation is: “The valley of Hatzag, where once the Sarmisgethusa lived.” If you google that name up, you get a reference to Sarmizegethusa (King's Seat) of Gradistea Munselului, in southern Rumania, this was the royal capital of the Dacian State. It is situated at a height of 3.940 feet (1.200 m) on terraced slopes deep among the southern Carpathian Mountains.

Cartouche lower middle right with four lines of text: "H..Litera in hac tabula/nonnullis vocabulis/adiuncta significat/ea esse Hungarica. Translation: “The letter H added to some names on this map means that these are Hungarian.”

Plate size: 326 x 451 mm
Scale: 1 : 500,000
Identification number: Van den Broecke Ort 153

The map occurred in various Theatrum editions, from 1575 through 1609.

Approximate number of copies printed: 6500.
Cartographic sources: Sambucus 1566, itself based on Honter 1532

Retusari, circa 1720

Today's map is a bit different from the previous entries, but an entirely worthy addition nonetheless.


The contributor offers this description of the piece: Central on this half birds eye view map you see a little island referred to as Retusari (“C” on the map), now known as the Kotlin Island. This island lies in the head of the Gulf of Finland.

Peter the Great captured the island from the Swedes in 1703 and constructed a fort and docks—then called Kronslot (on this map Cron schantz)—to protect the approaches to St. Petersburg. It is also known as Kronshtady, Kronshtadt or Kronštadt (“D” on the map) .

In the same year he founded Saint Petersburg (point “A” on the map) after reconquering the Ingrian land from Sweden in the Great Northern War. He named the city after his patron saint, the apostle Saint Peter.

The fortifications on the island were constructed very quickly. The Gulf of Finland is not very deep, so during the winter it completely freezes through. The text on this map says that 4000 men worked on them. Workers used thousands of frames of oak logs filled with stones. These were carried by horses across the frozen sea, and placed in cuttings made in the ice. Thus, several new small islands were created, and forts were erected on them, closing all access to Saint-Petersburg by the sea. Only two narrow navigable channels remained, and the strongest forts guarded them.

The map is by Gabriel Bodenehr most likely from “Force d'Europe, oder die Merkwürdigsten und Führnensten meistenteils auch Ihrer Fortification wegen Berühmtesten Stätte, Vestungen, Seehäfen, Pässe, Campa de Bataille in Europa....” (Augsburg, Ca. 1720) or perhaps from his 'Curioses Staats und Kriegs Theatrum,' Augsburg about 1730/35.

Thanks to the contributor for this great map!

Geneva, 1639

Today's map is another prize from the collection of Johan Huizing.


Mr. Huizing offers the following description of this wonderful work: This fine map depicts the city of Geneva and the region surrounding Lake Léman. It is by Hendrick Hondius (1597–1651) and I believe it comes from his “Nouveau Théâtre du Monde” or Nouvel Atlas of 1639. It looks a lot like the Ortelius map (no. 55 van den Broecke numbering). I like the big fish in the lake a lot!

Many thanks to Mr. Huizing for this excellent contribution!

The Empire of Alexander the Great B.C. 331-301, 1898

Today's map is a bit different from our previous entries.


The contributor has provided the following description of this piece: This colorful map comes from George F. Cram's "Universal Atlas - Geographical, Astronomical and Historical," published in 1898. This map shows the Empire of Alexander the Great and also details his routes of conquest.

Thanks to the contributor for sharing this map!

Our First Map!

A great map to get things rolling!


Many thanks to our first contributor. The owner tells us that this fine piece of cartographic art in the Mercator style is from 1607 and displays the Abruzzo and Terra di Lovoro [sic] regions of Italy. Great map!

Be sure to send us your maps and we'll display them here!