Historic Maps of Europe

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Richmond
Rare Books and Special Collections
Boatwright Library
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lynda Kachurek
Phone: (804) 289-8458
Fax: (804) 287-1840
Terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Box Number, Folder Number], MS-77, Historic Maps of Europe Collection, Book Arts, Archives, & Rare Books, Boatwright Memorial Library, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

Summary

Extent:
56 Sheets 6 folders
Abstract:
This collection consists of 55 maps and folio maps of various European localities spanning dates from 1572 to 1845. Also included is a single manuscript document: the last will and testament of John Graham with William Penn, Jr. as a witness signatory.
Language:
English Latin Dutch; Flemish French Italian Spanish; Castilian
Preferred citation:

[Box Number, Folder Number], MS-77, Historic Maps of Europe Collection, Book Arts, Archives, & Rare Books, Boatwright Memorial Library, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of 55 maps and folio maps of various European localities spanning dates from 1572 to 1845. Also included is a single manuscript document: the last will and testament of John Graham with William Penn, Jr. as a witness signatory.

Biographical / historical:

A significant number of the maps are folio maps: originally part of, and subsequently removed from, atlases. Maps were created and/or published by various authors, including:

John Speed (1542 - 1629) English historian and cartographer. Published Historie of Great Britaine (1611), Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, and A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World (1627). These were the first British world atlases and have a landmark position in the history of cartography.

Abraham Ortelius (1527 - 1598) Born in Antwerp, appointed as Royal Cartographer to King Phillip II of Spain in 1575. Best known for creating the first modern atlas, his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, first published in 1570.

Johannes (Joan) Willemszoon Blaeu (1596-1673) Born Alkmaar, North Holland, Son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), founder of the Blaeu firm. Publishers of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive, Atlas Novus and Atlas Maior (1662).

Johannes Janssonius (1588-1664) Born in Arnhem, Holland. Also known as Jan Jansson, married into the Hondius family of cartographers in 1612. In 1630s he published, with his brother-in-law Henricus Hondius, the 11 volume Atlas Major. Published English Country Maps in 1646.

Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) Born in Ghent. Also known as Joost de Hondt. Republished Gerard Mercator's Atlas in 1604. Engraved the plates for John Speed's Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine.

Henricus II Hondius (1597-1651) Son of Jodocus Hondius. Took over family business after death of Jodocus with his brother Jodocus II.

Theodore Danckerts (1663 - 1727) and Cornelius Danckerts III (1664 - 1717) Inherited family cartographic publishing firm from grandfather Cornelis Danckerts II and his brother Dancker Danckerts.

Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667) Born in Picardy, France. Considered the "Father of French Cartography." King Louis XIII appointed him Geographe Ordinaire du Roi. Well known maps and atlases include Amerique Septentrionale (1650), Le Nouveau Mexique et La Floride (1656), and La Canada ou Nouvelle France (1656).

Guillaume Sanson (1633 - 1703) Son of Nicolas. Republished his father's maps and atlases.

Gerard Mercator (1512 - 1594) Born near Antwerp. Studied under the Brothers of the Common Life, then at University of Louvain. First world map 1538. In 1541 produced first globe known to have rhumb lines. 1564 appointed as Court Cosmographer to Duke Wilhelm of Cleve, created the map projection that bears his name during this time. Also known for his revised edition of Ptolemy's Geographia.

Frederick de Wit (1629 - 1706) Born in Gouda. Worked under Willem Blaeu in Amsterdam. In 1659 he published the first chart, a map of Denmark, he drew and engraved himself. Published his world wall map and his best known atlas, Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula, the next year. Dutch States General granted him a 15-year Privilege in 1689.

William Penn, Jr. (1681 - 1720) Son of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. Born in Ireland, married Mary Jones in 1699, came to the colony in 1704. Fell into various legal and financial troubles in the colonies and England. Died of tuberculosis in Liège in 1720.

Processing information:

Processed by Matt Perelli, Processing & Reference Archivist, 2025.

Arrangement:

No original order. Maps are grouped by identifiable author(s).

Physical facet:
55 maps, 1 manuscript document

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Europe -- Maps
Maps
Early maps
Wills
Places:
Europe