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Maps XVI Century

16th Century Maps from various collectionsCreated by: LOC's Public Domain ArchiveDated: 1595
Vera totius expeditionis nauticæ : descriptio D. Franc. Draci ... /
The geography discoveries and the new printing techniques resulted in maps that can be cheaply produced. Since a globe remains the only accurate way of representing the spherical earth, and any flat representation resulted in distorted projection.

In 1569, Mercator published a map of the world specifically intended as an aid to navigation. It used a projection now known by Mercator's name, though it has been used by few others before him, based on a system of latitude and longitude that dated back to Hipparchus. Mercator's projection greatly enlarged territories as they recede from the equator. The distortion of Mercator's projection is a benefit to navigators since Mercator achieves a matching scale for longitude and latitude in every section of the map. A compass course can be plotted at the same angle on any part of Mercator's map. As a result marine charts still use this projection.

By the time of his death in 1595, Mercator has either published or prepared large engraved maps, designed for binding into volume form, of France, Germany, Italy, the Balkans, and the British Isles. Mercator's son issues the entire series under the title "Atlas": "Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes." The name becomes the word for a volume of maps.
354 Media in collectionpage 4 of 4
[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China - Public domain map

[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China - Public domain map

Public domain photograph of Chinese art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China

[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China

Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Cosmographiae introductio : cum quibusdam geometriae ac astronomiae principiis ad eam rem necessariis

Cosmographiae introductio : cum quibusdam geometriae ac astronomiae pr...

Designed to accompany Waldseemüller's globe and wall map of the world, on which the New World is called America. "America" is suggested as name for the New World on sig. C1 recto and C3 verso. Originally publi... More

[Portolan atlas of 9 charts and a world map, etc. Dedicated to Hieronymus Ruffault, Abbot of St. Vaast].

[Portolan atlas of 9 charts and a world map, etc. Dedicated to Hierony...

Manuscript, pen-and-ink and watercolor, on vellum. Each double-page illumination (col. diagrs., col. maps) 21 x 29 cm. Compass rose on inside back cover. "Maps 1, 2, and 10 show America. No. 1 shows the Gulf of... More

Expeditionis Hispanorum in Angliam vera descriptio. Anno Do: M D LXXXVIII.

Expeditionis Hispanorum in Angliam vera descriptio. Anno Do: M D LXXXV...

Intended to accompany: Ubaldini, Petruccio. A discourse concerninge the Spanishe fleete invadinge Englande in the yeare 1588. Some of the plates are signed by Robert Adams, artist, and Augustine Ryther, engrav... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[South Pole. 1555; page of text illus. with map showing "The Pole Antartike" and "The Crosse" (stars)]

[South Pole. 1555; page of text illus. with map showing "The Pole Anta...

Illus. in: R. Eden, Decades of Newe Worlde or West India. Londini, 1555, p. 248. Reference copy may be in LOT 7007. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card, with subsequent revisions. Captio... More

La herdike enterprinse faict par le Signeur Draeck D'Avoir cirquit toute la Terre /

La herdike enterprinse faict par le Signeur Draeck D'Avoir cirquit tou...

Public domain image of a vintage map, geography atlas, maritime navigation, age of discovery, 16th-17th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

Terræ Sanctæ, qua Promissionis terra, est Syriæ pars ea, quæ Palæstina uocatur.

Terræ Sanctæ, qua Promissionis terra, est Syriæ pars ea, quæ Palæstina...

Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image.

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Woodblock print. Shows the Great Wall of China, the defense sturctures of the military towns along the border and the coast. Also shows the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the border towns, and ethni... More

Carta marina navigatoria Portvgallen navigationes, atqve tocius cogniti orbis terre marisqve formam natvram sitvs et terminos nostris temporibvs recognitos et ab antiqvorum traditione differentes, eciam qvor vetvsti non meminervnt avtores, hec generaliter indicat

Carta marina navigatoria Portvgallen navigationes, atqve tocius cognit...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes text and illustrations. Bound in the Schöner Sammelband. Sheet 6 appears to be a proof copy and was laid in after the Sammelband was bound. All sheets except for sheet 6 annot... More

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Woodblock print. Shows the Great Wall of China, the defense sturctures of the military towns along the border and the coast. Also shows the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the border towns, and ethni... More

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Woodblock print. Shows the Great Wall of China, the defense sturctures of the military towns along the border and the coast. Also shows the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the border towns, and ethni... More

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Woodblock print. Shows the Great Wall of China, the defense sturctures of the military towns along the border and the coast. Also shows the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the border towns, and ethni... More

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Woodblock print. Shows the Great Wall of China, the defense sturctures of the military towns along the border and the coast. Also shows the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the border towns, and ethni... More

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Guang yu tu : er juan - Public domain vintage map

Woodblock print. Shows the Great Wall of China, the defense sturctures of the military towns along the border and the coast. Also shows the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the border towns, and ethni... More

[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China - Public domain map
[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China - Public domain map

[Da Ming yu di tu]., Qingdao China - Public domain map

Public domain scan of a vintage map, city plan, atlas, cartoghraphy, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

The principall nauigations, voiages, and discoueries of the English nation : made by sea or ouer land to the most remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth at any time within the compasse of these 1500 yeeres : deuided into three seuerall parts ... the first conteining the personall trauels of the English vnto Iudea, Syria, Arabia ... the second comprehending the worthy discoueries of the English towards the north and northeast by sea as of Lapland ... the third and last including the English valiant attempts in searching almost all the corners of the vaste and new world of America ... : whereunto is added the last most renowmed English nauigation, round about the whole globe of the Earth /

The principall nauigations, voiages, and discoueries of the English na...

Some contents are translations accompanied by original texts. Mandeville's travels (p. 24-79) in Latin only. "The famous voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the South Sea ...": [12] p. inserted between p. 643 and... More

Paolo Forlani - [Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Paolo Forlani - [Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Relief shown pictorially. Some maps entirely in Italian, some maps entirely in Latin. Title derived by cataloger from title page of bound Lafréry atlas. Seventeen loose sheets that appear in atlases sold by Ant... More

Paolo Forlani - [Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Paolo Forlani - [Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Relief shown pictorially. Some maps entirely in Italian, some maps entirely in Latin. Title derived by cataloger from title page of bound Lafréry atlas. Seventeen loose sheets that appear in atlases sold by Ant... More

Paolo Forlani - [Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Paolo Forlani - [Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Relief shown pictorially. Some maps entirely in Italian, some maps entirely in Latin. Title derived by cataloger from title page of bound Lafréry atlas. Seventeen loose sheets that appear in atlases sold by Ant... More

[Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

[Geografia tavole moderne di geografia].

Public domain scan of an 18th-century map, vintage, old city plan, fortifications, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Expeditionis Hispanorum in Angliam vera descriptio. Anno Do: M D LXXXVIII.

Expeditionis Hispanorum in Angliam vera descriptio. Anno Do: M D LXXXV...

Intended to accompany: Ubaldini, Petruccio. A discourse concerninge the Spanishe fleete invadinge Englande in the yeare 1588. Some of the plates are signed by Robert Adams, artist, and Augustine Ryther, engrav... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra.Dvisbvrgi Clivorvm [1595]

Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati f...

The first part, originally published in 1585, is composed of three fascicles, each with a special t. p.: Galliæ tabulę geographicæ ; Belgii Inferioris geographicæ tabulę ; Germaniae tabulę geographicæ. The ... More

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Theatrum orbis terrarum. Historic map, Library of Congress

Public domain scan of a page from geographical atlas, geography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

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