MAPS & STORIES

Our members have contributed these map images and descriptions to share their passion in historic cartography of all types. Larger images and further description is available by clicking on a map icon below.

WORLD
	1624	ANCIENT ROMAN ROAD MAP Abraham Ortelius, TABVLA ITINERARIA/EX ILLVSTRI PEVTINGERORVM BIBLIOTHECA... (Peutinger Map)
	1493	PRE-COLUMBUS WORLD MAP Hartmann Schedel, Liber Chronicarum (Nuremberg Chronicle)
CELESTIAL
	1729	STAR CHART FROM FIRST ROYAL ASTRONOMER John Flamsteed, Monoceros, Canis Major & Minor, Navis, Lepus (constellations) plate from Atlas Coelestis
	1742	ASTRONOMICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE EARLY 1700’S Johann Doppelmayr, Systema Solare et Planetarium plate from Atlas Novus Coelestis in quo...
AMERICAS
	1540	FIRST PRINTED MAP OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE ALONE Sebastian Münster, NOVAE INSVLAE, XVII NOVA TABVLA (New Map of the New Island)
	1719	MOST SPECTACULAR MAP OF AMERICAS Henri Abraham Chatelain, Carte Tres Curieuse de la Mer du Sud (Very Curious Map of the Southern Sea)
UNITED STATES
	1679	17th CENTURY TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES & GEOGRAPHIC MISCONCEPTIONS Nicolas Sanson, Le Nouveau Mexique et La Floride
CALIFORNIA
	1625	FIRST PRINTED MAP SHOWING CALIFORNIA AS AN ISLAND Henry Briggs, THE NORTH PART OF AMERICA
	1657	EARLIEST MAP TO EMPHASIZE CALIFORNIA AS AN ISLAND Nicolas Sanson, AUDIENCE DE GUADALAJARA, NOUVEAU MEXIQUE, CALIFORNIE, &C. (Royal Judicial Court of Guadalajara, New Mexico, California &c.)
	1705	MAP ENDING MYTH OF CALIFORNIA AS AN ISLAND Father Eusebio Kino, PASSAGE PAR TERRE A LA CALIFORNIE (Passage by Land to California)
	1848	FIRST MAP OF CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION Thomas O. Larkin, MAP OF THE VALLEY OF THE SACRAMENTO INCLUDING THE GOLD REGION
	1849	EARLY MAP OF LOS ANGELES Edward O.C. Ord, PLAN DE LA CIUDAD DE LOS ANGELES (Plan of the City of Los Angeles)

New content will be added to this section of our web site as it becomes available. In general we prefer maps that include California, were made by Californians, or relate in some way to our state. Contact the webmaster if you would like to offer some of your favorites for viewing here.