16th Century Maps

"1573 Abraham Ortelius Map of Tartary, Japan, and Western North America" Description of the Map: This is an outstanding example of Abraham Ortelius' map titled "Tartariae Sive Magn...

Jerusalem, Holy City View – Early Renaissance Woodcut, c.1560 This rare and evocative Renaissance woodcut depicts the Holy City of Jerusalem as imagined in early modern Europe, show...

Title: Rare 16th Century Woodcut Map of Brabant and the Rhine Valley, circa 1550 Description: This rare and highly decorative early woodcut map depicts the region of Brabant and the...

Antique print titled 'Basiliensis territorii descriptio nova'. Old map of the Basel region, Switzerland. Originates from 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum' by A. Ortelius. Artists and...

Title: Original 16th-Century Map of the Ottoman Empire and Near East: *Turcici Imperii Descriptio* by Ortelius, 1571 This rare copperplate engraving, Turcici Imperii Descriptio, i...

Map of India and Southeast Asia from Ptolemaic Geography – 16th Century Woodcut This remarkable hand-colored woodcut map, originally designed according to the geographical knowledge...

1585 Mercator map of Ireland, entitled "Irlandiae Regnvm." Hand Colored Description: Published in Amsterdam by Mercator/Hondius ca. 1585. Artists and Engravers: 1585 Mercator map of Ireland, entitled "Irlandiae Regnvm." Copperplate engraving on verge type hand laid paper with watermark. Description: Published in Amsterdam by Mercator/Hondius ca. 1585.Artists and Engravers: Mercator was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain under Gemma Frisius, Dutch writer, astronomer and mathematician. The excellence of his work brought him the patronage of Charles V, but in spite of his favor with the Emperor he was caught up in the persecution of Lutheran protestants and charged with heresy, fortunately without serious consequences. No doubt the fear of further persecution influenced his move in 1552 to Duisburg, where he continued the production of maps, globes and instruments. Mercator's sons and grandsons, were all cartographers and made their contributions in various ways to his atlas. Rumold, in particular, was responsible for the complete edition in 1595. The map plates...

Bird's-Eye Views of Dunkerque, Gravelines, and Bourbourg by Braun and Hogenberg, 1597 This antique print, published in 1597 by Braun and Hogenberg, showcases three detailed bird's...

1592 Abraham Ortelius map entitled "Lorraine: Lotharingiae Nova Descripti Ric.a005 Description: Ortelius is best known for producing the atlas from which this map comes from, "...

Antique map titled ‘Bolzvardia, Stavria, Harlinga, Hindelopia’. Four maps on one sheet. This map depicts the cities Bolsward, Stavoren, Harlingen and Hindeloopen (Friesland, The Neth...

Antique print titled 'Leodium'. View of Liège / Luik, Belgium with surrounding hills and the city wall. With text explaining the origins of Liège, a cartouche expressing thanks to th...

Antique print Hungary titled 'Contrafehtung der Festung Tokay'. Birds eye view of the fortress Julaof Tokay, Hungary, surrounded with Turkish troops. Originates from a German edi...

Antique map titled 'Westmorlandia, Lancastria, Caernvan, Denbigh, Flint, Merionidh, Dalopia cum issulis Mania et Anglesey'. Original antique map of England...

1597 Abraham Ortelius map of Burgundy, France entitled "Bvrgvndiae dvcatvs Ric.a010 Description: Ortelius is best known for producing the atla...

1590 Ortelius map of Calais and Vermandois, France and Vicinity Ric.a014 Two rare regional Abraham Ortelius maps on a single folio sheet. Left map, entitled Caletensium, depic...

Ortelius Asia Japan China Taiwan Philippines East Indies Antique Map 1570 This highly important early map of Asia titled “Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus” is one of the most influential 16th-century European depictions of East and Southeast Asia. Published by Abraham Ortelius for his groundbreaking atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, this map presents a sweeping geographical vision of the Far East before the full penetration of the Dutch into the region. It covers India, Indochina, China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, the East Indies or Spice Islands, New Guinea, and parts of the western Pacific. Ortelius was the first European cartographer to name Formosa (modern Taiwan), marking a milestone in Western geographic knowledge of Asia. Japan appears in its famous early “kite-shaped” form, shown as a large oval island...

Antique map titled 'Asiae IIII Tab'. Beautiful map of Mercator's Ptolemaic map of the Holy Land, Cyprus, Syria, etc. Originates from Mercator's 'Geograph...

Ptolemaic map of the Arabian Peninsula based on the 1548 map of Giacomo Gastaldi. It covers nearly all of the peninsula, but does not include the head of the Red Sea. The coastlines ...

Beautiful and rare antique map of Greece with Albania, Mecedonia, Romania, Dalmatia and the peninsula of Salento to the Golf of Taranto. Also clearly shown the islands of the Aegaian...

Antique map titled 'Embdena (..)'. Old, antique bird's-eye view plan of Emden, Germany. This bird's-eye view from the southwest over the Dollart shows Emden, which developed from a trading settlement in the 7th/8th centuries into a city as late as late 14th century. In 1494 it was granted staple rights, and in 1536 the harbour was extended. In the mid-16th century Emden's port was thought to have the most ships in Europe. Its population then was about 5,000, rising to 15,000 by the end of the 16th century. The Ems flowed directly under the city walls, but its course was changed in the 17th century by the construction of a canal. Emden has canals within its city limits, a typical feature of Dutch towns, which also enabled the extension of the harbour. Emden's first herring company was founded in 1553, and in 1595 Emden was created a Free Imperial City under the protection of Holland. Published by Braun...

1579 Ornate Map of Burgundy County by Ferdinand de Lannoy Description of the Map: This is a beautifully detailed map of the Burgundy region, titled "Bvrgvndiae Comitatus Recentiss....

Antique map titled 'Persiae Regnum sive Sophorum Imperium'. Old map of the Persian Empire. This map originates from 'Geografia cioe Descrittione Universale della Terra' by G.A. Magin...

Bird’s-Eye View of Basel from Braun & Hogenberg’s "Civitates Orbis Terrarum" (Circa 1572-1617) This highly detailed map of Basel is a bird's-eye view, originally based on Sebastian Münster’s map...

Description: Antique map titled 'Sumatra ein grosse Insel / so von den alten Geographen Taprobana genennt worden'. Beautiful map of Sumatra and the southern part of Malaysia, with Si...

Antique map titled 'Belgii Veteris Typus'. Beautiful map of the Low Countries, extending to the English Channel and part of Britain. This map originates from Ortelius' 'Theatrum Orbi...

1584 Abraham Ortelius Map of Lower Burgundy, France Description of the Map: This antique map by Abraham Ortelius, titled "Bvrgvndiae Inferioris Qvae Dvcatvs Nomine Censetur Des," w...

This is a wonderful bird's-eye plan/view of the oldest city in Sweden. Visby, the largest city on the island of Gotland was an important Viking city and the main centre of the Hanseatic League...

Bordeaux City View – Braun & Hogenberg Original Woodcut, ca. 1575 Description: This detailed and highly decorative bird’s-eye view of Bordeaux, titled Bovrdeavx, originates from the...

A very rare mid-16th century black and white map of North and West Africa called Mauritania by the Italian cartographic editor Girolamo Ruscelli. T...

Title: Avstriae Descrip – Wolfgang Lazius’ Map of Austria, 16th Century Description: This extraordinary map of Austria pays homage to the Austrian humanist and cartographer Wo...

Decorative 16th Century Map of Northern France by Ortelius, circa 1590 This richly colored antique map titled *Nobilis Hannoniae Comitatus Descriptio* depicts the County of Hainaut ...

This is a fine example of Ortelius' map of Switzerland from his *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*, recognized as the first modern atlas of the world. The map is oriented with south at the top, which reverses the typical north-up orientation seen in most modern maps. It highlights significant geographical features such as Lake Geneva (Lemanus Lacus) to the right of the map and the Rhine river entering Switzerland near the center. The *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*, first published in 1570 by Abraham Ortelius in Antwerp, was groundbreaking as it compiled uniform maps with supporting text in a single volume, marking a departure from earlier collections of maps that were custom-assembled on demand. This atlas included a wealth of sixteenth-century cartographic knowledge, reflecting the extensive global explorations occurring after the discovery of America...

One sheet with two engraved maps, one on each site, and text in Italian. Late 16th century copper engravings in great condition, considering its age. "Tavola Decima Dell'Asia" - Tabula Asiae X" Plate X (10). Pakistan, Cashmir, Bangla Desh, North-India...

Frisia, Groningen and Overijssel – Rare Woodcut Map by Münster, c. 1550, Germany This highly decorative 16th-century woodcut map titled “Von dem Teutschen Land: Seelentfrie” was pub...

Ven (older Swedish spelling Hven), is a Swedish island in the Öresund strait laying between Skåne, Sweden and Zealand and Denmark. The island was historically under Danish rule. Dani...

Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel – Antique Map by Sebastian Münster, 1574 This rare and finely colored woodcut map of Northern Netherlands depicts the provinces of Friesl...

This is a woodcut city view of Worms, published in Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia around 1578. The image depicts a bird's-eye view of the city of Worms, located in Rheinland-Pfalz,...

A very fine impression of this map of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, with Singapore denoted as 'Cinca Pula'. Highly distorted and inaccurate map by Girolamo Ruscelli after J...

1594 Maurice Bouguereau map of the region Limoges, France, entitled "Totivs Lemovici et Confinium Pro Uinciarum Quantum ad Dioecefin Lemo Uicenfen Fpectant," Hand Colored Ric0015 Jean IV Le Clerc...

Antique map titled 'Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio'. A very attractive example of Ortelius' map combining, on one page, maps of the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corfu, Elba, Malta and Zerbi (Jerba, off the coast of Tunisia.) The maps detail fortifications on the islands and other major features. (Jerba, for instance, is shown connected to the mainland by a causeway.) The waters are attractively engraved and are sailed by ships. A shipwreck, north of Malta, indicates the point at which St. Paul is thought to have shipwrecked. Volcanoes are indicated in the Sicily map...

GREAT BRITAIN -- "ENGELLANDT mit dem anstossenden Reich Schottlandt so vorzeiten Albion und Britannia haben geheissen". (Basel, c. 1590). Partly handcolored woodcut double-page map from S. Munster's 'Cosmographey'. 330 x 408 mm. (Lower margin cut short (touching the line), tiny hole in upper margin, sl. foxed/browned, lower right corner a bit thumbed). Sebastian Münster's 16th Century Map of the British Isles from 'Cosmographia Universalis...

Antique map titled 'Franeker'. Very rare and early map of the city of Franeker, Friesland. With decorative cartouche and Dutch legend. Artists and Engravers: Pieter Bast (1550-1605) ...

This remarkable map, titled "Asiae X Tab:", is a significant historical artifact that represents the convergence of knowledge and craftsmanship from two of the most esteemed figures in the history of geography and cartography. Created by Gerard Mercator and based on the geographical insights of Claudius Ptolemy, this map is part of the rare first issue published in Brussels in 1578. The map itself meticulously delineates the region between the Indus and Ganges rivers, an area of immense historical and geographical importance. It is an excellent representation of Ptolemy's second-century geographical data, which was fundamental in shaping the modern principles of mapmaking. Mercator, renowned for his precision and dedication to adhering closely to Ptolemy's original intentions, showcases this commitment through the detailed depiction of this significant Asian landscape. This edition stands out not only for its historical accuracy but also for its artistic execution. Gerard Mercator, who was also an innovator in the use of the italic hand for map lettering, first introduced this style in his "Literarum latinarum" in 1540. The use of italics in this map enhances its legibility and aesthetic appeal, which became a hallmark of the finest sixteenth and seventeenth-century Dutch maps, largely attributed to Mercator’s influence. The map measures 13 ½ x 18 inches and features fine hand coloring, which has been preserved in almost excellent condition alttough there some browning due to age. As a splendid example of the first issue from Mercator’s definitive edition of Ptolemy’s "Geographia", it not only serves as a testament to the rich history of geographical exploration but also stands as a beacon of the enduring legacy of its makers, shaping the future of cartographic design and precision. The map "Asiae X Tab:", focusing on the region between the Indus and Ganges rivers, highlights several areas and cities of historical and geographical importance that are likely of interest to scholars, historians, and collectors. Here are key locations depicted on the map: 1. **Indus River**: As one of the major rivers of Asia and a cradle of ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley Civilization, the Indus River holds significant historical importance. 2. **Ganges River**: Another crucial river not just for its cultural and religious significance in India, but also as a vital geographic feature in ancient and medieval maps...

This map, "Asiae I Tab:", features the region corresponding to modern-day Iran and Iraq, intricately depicted in Gerard Mercator's edition of Claudius Ptolemy's "Tabulae Geographicae...

Antique map titled 'Westfalia cum dioecelsi Bremensi'. Original antique map of Germany. Published by Mercator/Hondius, circa '1620' 17th Century antique detailled map of Westphali...

Antique map titled 'Tabula Asiae XI'. Based on the interpretations of Solinus and Munster, this Ptolemaic map covers the region roughly of Thailand and Malaysia. An oddly shaped (Mal...

Description of the Engraving: Braun & Hogenberg’s "S. Galli Opp. et Monasterium Heluetiorum" from Civitates Orbis Terrarum (1575) This is an original, hand-colored copper engraving ...

"Exquisite 1580 Ortelius Map of the Narbonne Coastal Region, France" Description of the Map: This map is an intricate copper etching from Abraham Ortelius's esteemed "Theatrum Orbi...

Very rare untitled antique woodcut map showing the region of the missionary journeys of Apostle Paul. It shows the Mediterranean with Greece, Asia Minor (Turkey), Northern Africa, So...

Description: Published in Amsterdam by Mercator/Hondius ca. 1590. Ric.0001 Artists and Engravers: Map : 'France Picardie Champaigne cum regionibus adiacentibus'. (Map of the french provinces of Picardie and Champagne.) Copper engraved map of the french provinces of Picardie and Champagne, showing the cities of Caen, Paris, Melun, Auxerre, Verdun, etc. Copperplate engraving on verge type hand laid paper with watermark. Description: Published in Amsterdam by Mercator/Hondius ca. 1600.Artists and Engravers: Mercator was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain under Gemma Frisius, Dutch writer, astronomer and mathematician. The excellence of his work brought him the patronage of Charles V, but in spite of his favor with the Emperor he was caught up in the persecution of Lutheran protestants and charged with heresy, fortunately without serious consequences. No doubt the fear of further persecution influenced his move in 1552 to Duisburg, where he continued the production of maps, globes and instruments. Mercator's sons and grandsons, were all cartographers and made their contributions in various ways to his atlas. Rumold, in particular, was responsible for the complete edition in 1595. The map plates...

Antique map titled 'Aegypti recentior descriptio - Carthaginis Celeberrimi sinus typus'. Two detailed regional maps by Ortelius. One map shows the region around the Nile, as far as A...

Antique map titled 'Hispania Nova Tabula'. Ruscelli's map of Spain, including the Balearic Islands. This map originates from 'Espositione & introduttioni universali di Gir. Ruscelli sopra tutta la Geografia di Tolomeo (..)' published by Girolamo Ruscelli, 1561. Girolamo Ruscelli (1500-1566) was a cartographer, humanist, and scholar from Tuscany. Ruscelli was a prominent writer and editor in his time, writing about a wide variety of topics including the works of Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch, Italian language, Italian poetry, medicine, alchemy, and militia. One of his most notable works was a translation of Ptolemy’s Geographia...

Antique map titled 'Asiae XII Tab'. Mercator's Ptolemaic map of Taprobana. The map shows Ptolemy's erroneous location of the island of Sri Lanka near the equator, with a bit of India...

Antique map titled 'Tabula V Asiae'. Important early woodcut map of Persia, depicting the area of Mesopotamia, Armenia and the Gulf, to the Caspian and Carmania (Iran). Includes name...

Antique print titled 'Abbildung der Statt Rom/wie sie von Romulo anfänge - Von Italia'. Woodcut of ancient Rome. This print originates from Munster's Cosmographia, one of the most in...

Antique map titled 'Dordrecht'. Map of the city of Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Bird's-eye plan view of the city, with many ships and two coats of arms in upper corners. This map ...

Antique map titled 'Die Stat Grave' Bird's eye view plan of Grave, The Netherlands, Holland. Showing the siege of Grave in the year 1602 by Prince Maurits of The Netherlands. Source ...

"Tabula Asiae V", Ptolemy/Ruscelli Subject: Persia - Iran Period: 1598 (published) Publication: Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Allessadrino… Claudius Ptolemy was a mathematician, ast...

Antique map titled 'Gallia Nova Tabula'. Ruscelli's map of France. This map originates from 'Espositione & introduttioni universali di Gir. Ruscelli sopra tutta la Geografia di Tolomeo (..)' published by Girolamo Ruscelli, 1561. Girolamo Ruscelli (1500-1566) was a cartographer, humanist, and scholar from Tuscany. Ruscelli was a prominent writer and editor in his time, writing about a wide variety of topics including the works of Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch, Italian language, Italian poetry, medicine, alchemy, and militia. One of his most notable works was a translation of Ptolemy’s Geographia...

Antique map titled 'Tavola Nuova di Schiavonia'. Ruscelli's map of the Balkans, with a coat of arms. The mountains are represented, river systems are shown in detail, and cities, towns and ports denoted throughout this 16th century map. A number of islands in the Adriatic Sea are also shown. This map originates from 'Espositione & introduttioni universali di Gir. Ruscelli sopra tutta la Geografia di Tolomeo (..)' published by Girolamo Ruscelli, 1561. Girolamo Ruscelli (1500-1566) was a cartographer, humanist, and scholar from Tuscany. Ruscelli was a prominent writer and editor in his time, writing about a wide variety of topics including the works of Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch, Italian language, Italian poetry, medicine, alchemy, and militia. One of his most notable works was a translation of Ptolemy...