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Historic Maps

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Wychwood Editions, Blaeu's World, 1665 Replica Historic Wall Map

Colorful replica of a map of the world, created ca. 1665, shows the state of geographic knowledge of that time. The coastlines of the continents are recognizably close to the real world as we know it now, with the west coast of North America perhaps the least well-known at the time; California, for example, is shown as an island, and the Alaskan-Canadian coastline shows no detail.

The margins are decorated with illustrations of historical and mythological figures, with captions in Latin. The map itself is decorated with the usual sailing ships and sea creatures one expects to see in maps of this era. Printed on one side only.

Size: about 38 x 28 inches. Rolled. Paper.

Published by Wychwood Editions, United Kingdom, no printing date. New.

Item #WYCH-BLAEU-1665. Shipping weight: 1.5 lbs. Suggested retail price: $19.95. Your price: $18.00 (out of stock)

Sent rolled at tubed map rate only. Please order rolled maps separately from other kinds of items on this website. Rolled maps cannot be packed with other kinds of items and require a separate shipping fee.

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US Geological Survey, Map of the United States of America [1857]

The British Provinces, Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America, with part of New Granada and Venezuela

This is a reproduction of an 1857 map that was deposited in the Library of Congress in 1927. The background is a parchment-like tan, with US states and territories, Mexican states, and other nations individually colored. Mountain ranges are depicted with hachure lines, and reflect the limited knowledge of western geography. Other details include cities and towns, railroads, and canals. A large inset shows the North Atlantic Ocean with shipping routes; another inset shows the Isthmus of Panama, long before the canal but showing a railroad reaching across it. It is fascinating to compare the map with current maps, both to see how much has actually changed, and to see what misconceptions existed (for example, the Mojave River in southern California, which actually empties into a desert lake bed, is shown as a tributary to the Colorado River.)

The map is elaborately decorated, with sailing ships and steamers in the oceans, a grapevine border intermingled with images of important buildings, monuments, and life in the Americas. (See sample at right.)

Size: about 47 x 38 inches. Rolled. Glossy paper.

Published by US Geological Survey, reproduction of map published by J.H. Colton and Co. of New York, 1857 (reprinted 2002). New.

Item #USGS-113632. Shipping weight: 2.5 lbs. Publisher's price: $10.00. Your price: $10.00 (Out of stock)

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USGS Maps of An Emerging Nation: The United States of America, 1775-1987

Produced in celebration of the bicentennial of the Constitution, this map is a great educational tool. On one side is a copy of a map produced in 1783 by Abel Buell (see sample at right). On the reverse is a set of 14 maps showing the expansion of the United States, annotated with the year each territory was created and each state admitted to the union. The US flag of each time period is shown with its respective map.

Size: about 29 x 22 inches. Folded. Glossy Paper.

Published by US Geological Survey, 1987. New.

Item #USGS-101415. Shipping weight: 0.4 lb. Publisher's price: $7.00. Your price: $7.00

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(These maps are tightly folded and prone to tear at the creases. Open with extreme care.)

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National Geographic, The Territorial Growth of the United States

This map is similar to the preceding Maps of an Emerging Nation in that it reproduces the same 1783 Abel Buell map showing the original United States, and also shows smaller maps showing the expansion of the nation. It differs in that it is printed on one side only and is not folded (and therefore more suited for display), and contains more detailed commentary; but it does not show flags, nor does it have as many inset maps as the other.

Size: about 43 x 30 inches. Rolled. Paper.

Published by National Geographic Maps, 1987 (reprinted 2000). New.

Item #NG-620025. Shipping weight: 1.5 lbs. Publisher's price: $12.99. Your price: $11.70

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Capt. Allen Anderson, Map of the Military Department of New Mexico, 1864

This replica of a map of the new US territories of Arizona and New Mexico completed in 1864 shows early settlements and forts, routes and dates of military “reconnoitring parties” [sic], wagon roads, Indian lands, and unexplored areas. In the latter category is the Grand Canyon region, which is unnamed, and only sketchily (and erroneously!) drawn in. Modern day cities such as Albuquerque are shown as little larger than neighboring villages, Phoenix is absent, and the future presence of Las Vegas (which was in Arizona territory) is portended only by the designation “Vegas” (Spanish for “meadows”) next to “Old Mormon Fort.” Hills and canyons are designated with hachures, an old style of representing slopes (see sample).

On the reverse of the map is a large-print modern explanation of the map, which sets the context in which it was made. This was written by Harry Myers, the Superintendent of Fort Union National Monument—one of the places shown on the map now preserved in the National Park System.

Scale, about 1:2,100,000 (1 inch = about 33 miles) Size: about 27 x 18 inches. Rolled. Paper.

Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, undated recent reprint.

Item #SPMA-NM1864. Shipping weight: 1.0 lbs. Publisher’s price: $5.00. Your price: $4.50

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NWD Arizona Ghost Towns/Sites: Then and Now

This is a set of six separate folded maps which reproduce historical Arizona maps and compare modern features by the use of transparent overlays. Map 1 shows an 1881 map of the state on one side, and an 1885 map on the reverse. Map 2 reproduces an Arizona map of 1900 on one side. On the reverse is a list of Arizona cities and towns showing their populations in 1900, 1950, and 2000—which not only shows the growth of most of them, but the decline of others (the "ghost" towns).

Maps 3-6 are sectional maps, each showing one-quarter of the state. The base map for each is the same 1881 map reproduction used in map 1, but in addition, a clear overlay printed in red shows a modern state road map. This enables you to tell, at a glance, which features have changed or been abandoned. For example, you'll see roads no longer in use, and towns no longer marked on modern maps. Text on the back of these sectional maps describe some of the changes that have taken place.

Note that due to less accurate standards of surveying and mapmaking, the match between the historical and modern maps is not precise, but it does give you a good idea on what has changed.

Scale, varies, 1 inch = about 22 or 26 miles. Size of maps 1 and 2: 17 x 22 inches; maps 3-6: 8½ x 11 inches. Folded. Paper, with clear plastic overlays. Come in paper envelope for storage.

Published by Northwest Distributors, Inc., 2001. New.

Item #NWD-AZ-GHOST. Shipping weight: 0.5 lb. Suggested retail price: $12.95. Your price: $11.65 (Out of stock)

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NWT Nevada Ghost Towns/Sites: Then and Now

Set of six folded historic maps of the state, four of which include transparent overlays of current maps that readily enable you to see which towns and roads no longer exist.

Map 1, side 1 is a reproduction of an 1882 Nevada map. (See sample at right.) On the reverse is a modern map of the state, amended to emphasize ghost town sites and the shifting territorial boundaries. It also dates some of the ghost towns.

Map 2, side 1 reproduces a Nevada map from 1900. Side 2 lists several hundred Nevada settlements, past and present, and their populations in 1900, 1950, and 2000 (if known).

Maps 3-6 divide the state into quarters and show a part of an 1881 state map on one side (this looks identical to the 1882 map shown on Map 1, perhaps a typo?) with a transparent overlay of a modern topographic map attached. The overlay map is printed in red for less interference with reading the black-printed 1881 map. On the reverse side of each is a description of some of the towns and other localities on the map, including boom and bust dates of mining towns.

Size, maps 1 and 2: about 17 x 22 inches; maps 3 to 6: 8½ x 11 inches. Folded. Paper, with clear plastic overlays. Come in paper envelope for storage.

Published by Northwest Distributors, Inc., 2003.

Item #NWD-NV-GHOST. Shipping weight: 0.5 lb. Publisher’s price: $12.95. Your price: $11.65

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National Geographic Pearl Harbor Commemorative / Pacific Ocean 1942, maps

Map and poster printed on two sides, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 1941 Battle of Pearl Harbor. One side is a poster centering on a pictorial physical map of Oahu, showing the major sites attacked and the routes of the Japanese invaders. Surrounding this are numerous historical photographs of the ships attacked and other scenes from just after the battle. These are accompanied by informative notes which set the scene. There are also aerial photos of the harbor. The poster is bordered by numerous insignia of military units (not shown in the image at left).

On the reverse side is a reproduction of National Geographic's February 1942 map of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding countries. (See image at right.) It shows air routes, naval bases, and the usual details of countries that you expect on a political map. It also provides a table of air miles between various Pacific Rim cities. The replica map is bordered by a contemporary description which gives background to the map, extolling the National Geographic Society's importance in providing maps to American households.

Size: about 34 x 22½ inches. Rolled. Paper.

Published by National Geographic Maps, 2001. New.

Item #NG-622076M. Shipping weight: 1.0 lb. Publisher's price: $14.99. Your price: $13.50

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National Geographic Holy Land map

The history of the ancient civilizations of the southeastern Mediterranean region is the subject of this map, printed on two sides. One side shows most of contemporary Lebanon, almost all of Israel (except south of the Dead Sea), northwestern Jordan, and far western Syria, as well as all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This map is packed with historical notes, and also includes quick reference symbols showing which sites are important to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and which historical periods places with accessible buildings or ruins belong to. Also mapped are current roads, railroads, canals, airports, cedar groves, ruins, and more. Shaded relief shows the location of the mountains and hills.

On the reverse is a set of smaller maps and historical information. The largest, in the same style as the main map, shows the Jerusalem region in more detail. Another inset shows the center of Jerusalem iteself in still more detail, focusing on the streets and important buildings in and around the Old City. A colorful painting shows an oblique aerial view of the Old City as it appears now. Six small maps show the extent of several empires which have included the region. Two additional maps show the probable and possible travels of Moses, Jesus, Abraham, Muhammad, and Paul.

Scale of main map, 1:405,500 (1 inch = about 6.4 miles). Size: about 21½ x 31 inches. Rolled. Paper.

Published by National Geographic Maps, 1989 (limited revision 2001). New.

Item #NG-620044F. Shipping weight: 1.0 lb. Publisher’s price: $10.99. Your price: $10.00 (out of stock)

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National Geographic Shakespeare's Britain Historic Map

This map was created in the 1960s but was based on the style of an historic 1611 map. The Geographic's own words describe this map well:

From the archives of National Geographic comes a one-of-a-kind resource for any true Shakespeare enthusiast. Shakespeare's Britain is based on John Speed's map, "The Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland", from his 1611 atlas, "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine." The supplement to National Geographic Magazine was first published in our May, 1965 issue.

Steeped in the history of the era, the map takes its reader back to the time of Shakespeare with a blend of classic cartography and artistry. Shakespeare's Britain is infused with Symbols and icons that show:

Settings of the plays;

Towns, abbeys, and churches;

Castles and battlefields; and

Forests and heaths.

Insets include a panoramic view of Shakespeare's London and an enlarged map of Stratford on Avon. Also included is a table that shows "Shakespeare's Plays with British Settings," which lists the period of action in each play and the reign of the kings.

See sample detail at right.

Scale, 1 inch = about 29 miles. Size: about 20½ x 26½ inches. Rolled. Paper.

Published by National Geographic Maps, 1964, special 2003 reprint. New.

Item #NG-620097. Shipping weight: 1.0 lb. Publisher's price: $10.99. Your price: $10.00

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