Beautiful and illuminating maps from around the world, from the oldest examples known to those created around 1950.
Welcome!
We're interested in sharing interesting, beautiful or informative examples of the cartographer's trade, from their emergence in the ancient Near East up to a somewhat arbitrary end-date of 1950 A.D.
We'll happily accept historical maps! If you're posting a map, please provide a description and date in the title.
Related Subreddits
r/Maps - If you're interested in maps and cartography generally (or modern maps specifically).
r/MapPorn - For gorgeous wallpaper-size maps of all descriptions.
r/Geography - If you're curious about the geography that informed historic mapmapkers.
r/ArtHistory - For background on the artistic styles that influenced mapmakers through history.
r/History and r/MedievalHistory - For historical background.
r/MapMaking - If you're getting the feeling you'd like to try your hand at cartography.
r/Vexillology - If you're interested in more ways people symbolically stake out territory. For everything you need to know about flags.
r/ImaginaryMaps - For maps from fictional stories, books, films, television programs, video games, and comics.
r/WorldBuilding - For sharing your worlds and discussing the many aspects of creating new universes.
r/OldNews - For news that isn't new. News from history, news from the past.
r/Gis - For the technical side of cartography and geography.
r/PaperTowns - For well-crafted pictorial maps, detailed panoramic cityscapes, broad aerial vistas, intricate bird's-eye views and even full 3D reconstructions.
/r/oldmaps
Old world globe with 9 oval circles in the ocean. Anyone know what they represent? There are lines radiating out from all around the oval on each one.
Sorry if this isn’t the correct sub to post this in but it seems to be an etching of a city but I cannot for the life of me read the name at the top. Bottom right says circa 1630. Can anyone figure out what it says? Thank you!