Links to old maps - nothing to do with GIS, but still interesting and a lot of fun!

General, Worldwide collections:

  • The Perry Castaneda Library at the University of Texas is one of the first, and still one of the best, Internet sites for world-wide bitmap versions of maps of all types. Their historical map collection has hundreds of maps at worldwide, national, regional and local scale from around the world. Their historical map link page has links to hundreds more sites with old maps. Give yourself lots of time to explore.
  • The Library of Congress Geography and Map Reading Room was one of my favorite places to spend my time while I lived in the Washington area. Now I'm on the other side of the world, but the collection is still very much accessible through an immense digitizing effort and Mr Sid technology at the Map Collection page
  • The Yale University Map Collection has many medium-to-large sized scans, worldwide in scope, classical up to 19th century.
  • The David Rumsey Map Collection has over 3,000 online images, mostly North and South America, with a good search utility to help you find what you're looking for. Includes a great browser with zoom capability and full library catalog data for each map.
  • They aren't really "old maps," but they're works of art and deserve to be included: The Department of History at the US Military Academy has over the years created the most useable, detailed yet comprehensive, accurate and visually pleasing maps portraying historical military campaigns and battles that I've ever seen. Now they're digitizing them and putting them online.
  • I have no clue who Legolas is (other than an elf who's handy with an arrow), but a website with this name has a decent collection of fairly good resolution images; highlights are links to Blaeu's cities (possibly direct linked to George Welling's site below), and a few historically significant early America images
  • The Historical Map page of the University of Minnesota's James Ford Bell Library features Johann Baptist Homann among many others, with some specific maps of the East Indies, Dominican Republic, Central America, US Midwest and others.
  • For really old maps check out the Jim Siebold collection, over 400 images of maps from 6,000 BC to 1500 AD.

    By location: Maps and collections sorted by country and state. Many collections focus on one political entity but, of course, have material covering nearby areas as well. Other collections have an area focus, and just happen to contain maps that have nothing to do with the focus area. I suggest looking at the location you're interested in, perhaps looking at listings for adjacent states or countries, and then maybe do a text search to turn up things in other descriptions that may relate to your area.
    Bermuda
  • 1626 map of Bermuda from the James Ford Bell Collection at the University of Minnesota
    • Canada
      British Columbia
  • British Columbia Archives has high quality scans of nautical, topographic and land record maps
      • Newfoundland
  • Old Newfoundland maps, just a couple, includes other maritime provinces as well
    • Colombia
  • 1640 map of Colombia from the James Ford Bell Collection at the University of Minnesota
    • Croatia
  • Image of Ortelius, 1575 map located at the Bodleian Library, Oxford
    • Cyprus
  • Great site- from the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, a collection of over two dozen 16th-18th century maps, some with very high resolution scans
    • Finland
  • 500 years of Finnish cartographic history, courtesy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Museum of Central Finland
    • France
  • A collection of 100 18th and 19th century maps of Paris hosted by Prof Barry Bergdoll at Columbia University
  • A French site featuring old road maps; scans of map covers, mostly France but a handful of other Europe and some US, unfortunately not much in the way of maps themselves
    • Guatemala
  • An interesting advertising map of Guatemala City ca 1950 from University of Cal Berkeley
    • Iceland
  • A phenomenal site, result of a cooperative efforts of the National and University Library of Iceland and the National Library of Norway, includes a comprehensive collection of images across Iceland's history with multiple viewing resolutions
    • Israel
  • Collection of Jerusalem maps from the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine
    • Japan
  • The Lanman Collection at Yale University is worldwide in scope, but has a decided emphasis on Asia, and Japan in particular
    • Liberia
  • 19th Century maps from the US Library of Congress
    • Mexico
  • The Map Library of the University of Arizona has an exhibit of early Southwestern Cartography with images from the late 16th century through the 1850's, to include several covering all or most of present-day Mexico
    • The Netherlands
  • George Welling's Historical Maps from Dutch Cartographers has extensive images from three 17th Century mapmakers covering the Netherlands and surrounding areas; good collection of high resolution jpeg's of Blaeu's Dutch city maps from the Toonneel der Steeden of 1652
  • The Royal Biblioteque's Map Collection page has a number of images with a wealth of historical information and links to other important collections
    • Russia
  • The Lada-Mocarski Collection at Yale University has over two dozen 16th, 17th and 18th century maps with a focus on Russia
  • The Early Russia collection of the University of Minnesota's James Bell Ford Library has 15th through 18th century maps
    • Spain
  • Several dozen maps from the Enggass Collection of the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine
  • Map of Ft Gordon, near Lerida, Spain drawn by George B. McClellan while a West Point cadet; courtesy Princeton University library
    • Switzerland
  • The digital archives page of the Ryhiner Map Collection in Berne has a few images of 17th-18th century Swiss maps as well as a few nearby countries
    • United Kingdom
  • Several assorted images, mostly UK but a copuple North America as well, from the Mapcase of the Bodleian Library at Oxford
  • The National Library of Wales Pictures and Maps Collection has a few images
    • United States
  • Ray Sterner's Color Landform Atlas of the US has good, detailed scans of state maps from an 1895 Rand McNally atlas, covering all 50 states, mixed in with some good modern stuff as well
  • The Library of Congress' American Memory Collection includes several pages devoted to maps, to include ones with Civil War maps, National Park maps, Railroad maps, and Revolutionary War maps
  • A site at the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine devoted to the Mitchell map of eastern North America (1750-1775), it's development and impact, with lots of good graphics
  • Early America dot com has a map page with a few decent scans of Revolutionary War era maps of the eastern US and specific Revolutionary War battle sites
  • The US Digital Map Library from US GenWeb is an effort within the genealogical research community to make a decentralized collection of scans of states and local areas across the US available.
      • Arizona
  • The Map Library of the University of Arizona has an exhibit of early Southwestern Cartography with images from the late 16th century through the 1850's
      • California
  • The Map Library of the University of Arizona has an exhibit of early Southwestern Cartography with images from the late 16th century through the 1850's
  • The 1851 San Francisco fire from Princeton University library
      • Colorado
  • The Colorado City Histoprical Society has maps of the city and region, some are nice scans of actual old maps, others are diagrams produced from historical sources
      • Connecticut
  • MAGIC, the same site that brings you the Connecticut GIS Spatial Data Infrastructure node, has a truly PHENOMENAL historical maps site; a comprehensive collection from colonial times through early 20th century, fully zoomable through a Mr Sid viewer (along with a JPEG option as well)
  • UNH Dimond Library - Historical topo maps of New England - jpeg format, about 1.5 to 2 meg each, maps going back as far as 1893
      • Florida
  • The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection at the University of Georgia has a great collection of detailed scans of maps of Georgia; lots of coverage of Florida as well, particularly from the colonial period
      • Georgia
  • The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection at the University of Georgia has a great collection of detailed scans of maps of Georgia and surrounding states from the early colonial period forward
  • The Carl Vinson Institute of Government has a nice collection of Georgia maps, some with acceptably high resolution, from the colonial period through the 20th century; also hosts the Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties
      • Illinois
  • The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a nice site with maps of Illinois and the old Northwest Territory, many with zoomable, high resolution images viewable on a Mr Sid viewer
  • The University of Illinois at Chicago has good quality scans from a Robinson 1886 Fire Insurance Map Atlas
      • Kansas
  • Old Kansas Area Maps is a UKans site with several maps, of particular note is a collection of 1883 county maps of the entire state
      • Maine
  • The Moosehead Lake Region from the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine
  • UNH Dimond Library - Historical topo maps of New England - jpeg format, about 1.5 to 2 meg each, maps going back as far as 1893
      • Massachusetts
  • UNH Dimond Library - Historical topo maps of New England - jpeg format, about 1.5 to 2 meg each, maps going back as far as 1893
      • Minnesota
  • The Minnesota Historical Society Map Collection page
      • New Hampshire
  • UNH Dimond Library - Historical topo maps of New England - jpeg format, about 1.5 to 2 meg each, maps going back as far as 1893
      • New Mexico
  • The Map Library of the University of Arizona has an exhibit of early Southwestern Cartography with images from the late 16th century through the 1850's
      • New York
  • The Map Library of the State University of New York at Stony Brook has sites with 17th and 18th century maps of the region of New York state, and another site with a comprehensive collection of historical maps of Long Island, each with descriptive information and metadata
  • The Tompkins County GIS site includes a great collection of high-res scans of historical maps of New York and the Ithaca/Finger Lakes area.
      • North Carolina
  • The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection at the University of Georgia has a great collection of detailed scans; the focus is Georgia, but a lot of North Carolina is included as well
      • Rhode Island
  • UNH Dimond Library - Historical topo maps of New England - jpeg format, about 1.5 to 2 meg each, maps going back as far as 1893
      • South Carolina
  • The SCRoots Geneology site has a phenomenal map page, with what looks to be a complete 1825 atlas of the state, with locality maps at varying resolutions, to include some very high res options; lots of maps from surrounding areas as well, mostly 19th century
  • The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection at the University of Georgia has a great collection of detailed scans; the focus is Georgia, but a lot of South Carolina is included as well
      • Texas
  • The Virtual Map Library at the University of Texas at Arlington is a wonderful site. High res maps in Mr Sid format, use the viewer or download the files. Texas, as well as quite a few significant maps covering Mexico and other parts of the Southwest US.
      • Utah
  • Sanborn Fire Insurance maps in high resolution, Mr Sid format at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah; also other historical western US maps in the collection
      • Vermont
  • UNH Dimond Library - Historical topo maps of New England - jpeg format, about 1.5 to 2 meg each, maps going back as far as 1893
      • Virginia
  • The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection at the University of Georgia has a great collection of detailed scans of maps of Georgia and surrounding states; the Civil War section has, as you would expect, a great deal of coverage of Virginia included
  • University of Virginia library has 1907 and 1920 Sanborn maps of Charlottesville, very high resolution

    • Other old maps that just don't fit the categories above:

  • Dr. James Richardson at McNeese State University has a site featuring a treatise, with a digital facsimile, on an early 16th centruy map of the Atlantic, showing America, by Turkish cartographer and navigator Piri Reis.

    Other old map and history of cartography resources:

  • Tony Campbell's History of Cartography site is a great resource for learning about cartogrpahy and its history. Mr Campbell maintains a listing of links to images and other resources far more comprehensive than what I have here, I wish I could keep up with him.
  • Boudewijn Meijer in the Netherlands runs the MapRef page, a collection of links to non-printed sources of material on old maps. The collection of references to old maps on CD-ROM from a multitude of different producers is a unique and valuable resource.
  • Mercator's World, a classy periodical devoted to antique maps and map collecting, with a pretty complete online version
  • MapForum.com, an online monthly devoted to antique maps
  • Cartografica Helvetica, a Swiss-based on-line academic journal of historical cartography

    Old Map Sellers (some of these guys have nice scans of many catalog items):

  • Altea Antique Maps and Books in London
  • Richard B. Arkway has an extensive catalog of classics; low resolution scans
  • Art Source International in Boulder, Colorado, has a huge selection of maps and various map collecting supplies and materials
  • David Bannister Antique Maps
  • Steve Bartrick in Herefordshire, UK, has an extensive on-line catalog with a focus on UK
  • Reinhold Berg in Regensburg, Germany, has an antiquarian map page
  • Bickerstaff's Books, Maps, &c in Waltham, Massachusetts, has a modest selection of mostly North American maps
  • Bloomsbury Book Auctions of London includes maps in their extensive offerings
  • Bonhams and Brooks in London has a Book and Map department, with rather frequent auctions that include map offerings
  • Carson Clark Gallery in Edinburgh is a Scottish map specialist; web site is not yet fully functional as of Apr 2002
  • Cartographica Neerlandica is Marcel van den Broecke and Deborah van den Broecke-G?zburger, two scholars who focus on Abraham Ortelius. In addition to a phenomenal number of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum maps for sale, the site offers a vast wealth of information, to include english translations of much of the atlas' text.
  • Cartographic Associates in Fulton, Maryland, has fixed price catalog sales on antique maps and globes; includes and interesting collection of silf escape & evasion maps from US and UK
  • eWolfs.com in Cleveland, Ohio, stages a relatively constant procession of online auctions, all manner of art and antiques, with a selection of maps included about every couple of months.
  • Fairwinds Antique Maps in New York is an island specialist; fixed price sales with a fairly extensive catalog
  • Garwood and Voigt Fine and rare books, maps and prints
  • George Glazer Gallery Antique Globes, Prints and Maps in New York
  • Leen Helmink fixed price sales of antiquarian maps
  • Hemispheres Antique Maps and Prints haas antiquarian maps at fixed prices, with a focus on Africa
  • The Heritage Map Museum in Lititz, Pennsylvania, has periodic auctions and a good selection of map collectors resources
  • Murray Hudson Antiquarian Books, Maps and Globes in Halls, Tennessee
  • Simon Hunter Antique Maps
  • The book and map department of Lawson-Menzies in Sydney, Australia, has infrequent auctions with catalogs on-line about 2 weeks prior.
  • Lee Jackson Antique Maps and Engravings
  • The Map House of London has a huge collection, a handful of scans in the specialty catalog section
  • Martayan Lan of New York has an extensive catalog, good graphics
  • Meridian Antique Prints and Maps in Milton Keynes, UK, specializes in antiquarian maps
  • Oldfield Gallery Antique Maps, Charts, Prints and Books
  • Oldimprints.com in Portland, Oregon
  • "Old Maps and Prints" is run by Preston and Petra Figley, fixed price sales with a focus on 16th-19th century America
  • The Old Map Gallery in Denver, Colorado, has fixed price sales with a fairly extensive inventory; mostly 18th-19th century
  • The Old Print Shop of New York has a broad collection with nice, medium resolution scans
  • Old World Auctions of Sedona has an extensive auction catalog, good medium resolution scans
  • Old Siam Trading Company is an operation in Thailand with old maps and prints, specializing in Asia
  • Pacific Book Auctions is often good for several maps, focus is the American West
  • Paralos Antiquarian Books and Antique Maps and Prints in London
  • PastPresent galleries in Celebration, Florida, has a large selection, mostly 19th century; looks primarily like maps ripped from atlases
  • The map page from Pettinaroli Maps and Prints in Milano
  • The Philadelphia Print Shop's map page; good selection, wide range of prices, worldwide; also has a small page of atlases. Fixed price sales.
  • Philographikon in Munich, run by Rainer Rauhut, has a good selection of maps with a wealth of cartographical history in the descriptions and some associated pages
  • The Portsmouth Bookshop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is an antiquarian Map and Atlas dealer with fixed price, online sales
  • Postaprint in Oxfordshire, UK, has many maps included in its wide assortment of prints and books
  • Jonathan Potter Limited has an online catalog with some low resolution scans, good resources for beginning collectors
  • The Prime Meridian in Danville, Virginia, has a fixed price catalog with a rotating discount catalog, focus is on Southeastern US.
  • Primitive Pieces in Lehighton, PA, has fixed price sales of maps and atlases, good selection of moderately priced items
  • Robert Putman Antiquarian Maps and Books in Amsterdam, fixed price sales
  • Reiss & Sohn in Konigstein, Germany, offers semiannual rare book and map auctions as well as stock sales
  • Robert Ross and Company has maps, globes and atlases at fixed price, worldwide catalog, quite a few antiquarian offerings
  • Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps has a great sale catalog, classics as well as newer maps up to late 19th century; nice graphics, and a great collection of related links
  • Scharlau Prints and Maps has a Scottish orientation
  • Monika Schmidt in Munich specializes in antique maps and prints; not a lot, but some very nice pieces included
  • E. Forbes Smiley III with locations in Edgartown, Massachusetts and New York City, has an extensive collection
  • Snug Harbor Cartographer has fixed price sales, focus on New England and North America
  • Sotheby's maps and atlases page
  • Street and O'Neill Galleries in Wilton, CT has a worldwide collection, heavy on US with lots of 19th century atlas maps
  • The Paulus Swaen Old Map Auction site has auction or fixed price sales; low resolution scans in the catalogues
  • Swann Galleries has a maps and atlases page with on-line catalogs for semi-annual map and atlas auctions
  • William R. Talbot in Santa Fe has maps and books, to include the occasional atlas or cartographic reference, with a pronounced focus on the Southwest of the US
  • Tooley Adams Antiquarian Maps
  • Dominic Winter Book Auctioneers in Swindon, UK, has periodic auctions covering a wide range of topics, frequently including maps and atlases. Email bidding available.
  • Waverly Auctions in Bethesda, Maryland usually has some maps and atlases available
  • Worldview Maps in Katonah, NY, has fixed price sales of antiquarian maps and atlases; includes some moderately priced 19th century items
  • Zisska and Kistner Book and Art Auctions in Munich has semiannual auctions, on-line catalogs and results, healthy proportion of maps and travel publications included
  • Zwicker's Gallery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has a decent selection of maps in their prints and fine arts collection

    Old Maps (and other related items) available on CD-ROM:

  • Centennia Atlas from Clockwork Software is not old maps, but almost as good and just as much fun- software that traces changes in worldwide political boundaries, graphically portraying over 9000 distinct boundary changes through history.

    The Mapdawg pages:

    Mapdawg home
    GIS and Geographic Data- focus is on links that take you directly to available (and hopefully free to immediately download) spatial data, ready to use in your GIS package; worldwide in scope.
    GIS Organizations- links to selected organizations involved in the production, use, and development of GIS and related geographic tools and spatial data
    GIS Software- Primarily vendors
    Geography and GIS Resources on the internet- sites with general info on the field
    The Mapdawg Old Map page steps back in time away from the GIS high tech world
    send email to the Mapdawg

    Other stuff:

    Search the web using Alta Vista
    In the unlikely event you can't find what you need, search farther with Dogpile
    Mario's Cyberspace Station, a wonderful and unique news site, courtesy of my friend, Mario Profaca