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Online access to early map images of the Caribbean provides a unique venue for those with limited or no access to these materials. Browser and viewer technology and high resolution images make it possible to examine centuries old historical maps more easily and in greater detail than if one were present at the institution where the originals are held. Also, the ability to download, store, edit, and use these images, within copyright use restrictions, for personal, scholarly, and educational work is an additional plus. This guide presents a descriptive listing of select web sites that contain collections of images of the early cartography of the Caribbean (pre-1900). These web sites have met the following three criteria:
Finding Early Map Images on the World Wide WebThere are hundreds of early map web sites. Discovering sites that store map images relevant to a particular search is time consuming and difficult. However, Tony Campbell, former Map Librarian of the British Library, has eased the task considerably. Mr. Campbell explores, catalogs, and reviews web sites related to historical cartography and publishes a thorough guide to his findings on the web site Map History / History of Cartography/ THE Gateway to the Subject. The site is hosted by the Institute of Historical Research, University of London and is part of the WWW-Virtual Library. To begin an early map image search we recommend going first to Images of early maps on the web, a section of the Map History site. There you will find annotated links to hundreds of sites. The sites are ordered by the quantity of images under General and Miscellaneous Sites, Theme, and by geographic region. Also useful are the canned searches of historical materials found on Odden's Bookmarks at Lists of Links and Gateway Sites, which is another section of the Map History site. Odden's Bookmarks -The Fascinating World of Maps and Mapping, is the ultimate map listing having more than 20,000 links to maps of all kinds on the web. This site is searchable and browseable by region and country, which also can be limited by subject categories such as maps and atlases, map collections, libraries, departments of cartography and so on. Finally, for researchers who need basic information about how to find and use online map catalogs, see David Y. Allen's Online Map Catalogs in North America and Europe. These resources are some of the best starting places to begin a search for early images of maps on the web. Web Sites with Early Caribbean Map ImagesDavid Rumsey Map Collection The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection contains over 12,631 maps and focuses on rare 18th and 19th century North and South American cartographic materials. The collection is comprised of a variety of map types. These include atlas, globe, school geography, maritime chart, state, county, city, pocket, case, wall, children's, and manuscript maps. However, for the Caribbean, map types are limited to atlas, chart, case, book, composite, and pocket maps. Viewing the Collection The collection can be viewed with specially developed
software and browsers that allow sharp, detailed filled viewing.
Searches can be done by publication author, state/province,
country, keywords, and available data fields. There are three
viewing options, all of which are listed below. We highly
recommend using the Insight Java Client and an internet
connection equal to or greater than a 56K modem. To utilize the many features of the Insight Java Client
efficiently, it is strongly recommended to explore the online
tutorial. Caribbean Content Using the Insight Java Client, simple keyword searches yielded the results found in Table 1 below (In searches with two or more terms, all combinations were tried). From these searches, two hundred-five Caribbean map images were found, seventy-three from the 18th century (1708-1796), one hundred thirty-one from the 19th century (1803-1897), and one from the 20th century (1922). Chronological indexes with thumbnail images and identifying information for the 18th century and 19th century map images were made from files exported using the Insight Java Client. Click on the links below to see the indexes. You also can search and view this group of images using the Insight Java Client by selecting file>open group>select Rumsey Collection> Select RISM Caribbean Area on the menu. Table 1. Results of Keyword Searches
at David Rumsey Map Collection
Library of Congress - Map Collections: 1500-2002 Library of Congress - Map Collections 1500-2002 represents a small digitized part of the more than 4.5 million items held at the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress. The images were scanned from public domain maps and atlases and can be used freely. Viewing the Collection Users search by keyword or browse indexes of geographic locations, subjects, creators, and titles. It is recommended to search for digitized maps at the Map Collections site, since each map is usually assigned to only one category and searching here allows users to find maps in all seven major categories as well as in the smaller sub-collections such as the Portolan Charts of Battista Agnese or Selections from The Luso-Hispanic World in Maps or Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age: Nineteenth- and Early-Twentieth-Century Perspectives - Cartographic Items. For more information searching the maps at the Library Congress see Searching "Map Collections".Selected maps can be viewed and zoomed online and the WYSIWYG .gif images can be downloaded in Windows with a Right Click and in Macintosh with Option-Click or by placing the cursor on the image and holding the mouse button until a dialog box appears. Since individual Map Collections image files are in .sid format, they must be downloaded and viewed with a widely distributed, free viewer from LizardTech - MrSid Viewer, which is compatible with Linux, Solaris, Macintosh, and Windows platforms. The average size of a Map Collections .sid file is 5 MB. You can download the viewer here. Caribbean Content Though the focus of Map Collections is on Americana and Cartographic Treasures of the Library of Congress (LOC), there are early Caribbbean area and country maps, most of which are from the 18th and 19th centuries. Maps found tend to be those related closely with the founding of the new world and American interests, but not exclusively so. Key word searches performed at the David Rumsey Collection were similarly repeated here and the results are found in Table 2. As can be seen in Table 2, the map images available at this site center around the Caribbean area and the Greater Antilles as a part of North America. Table 2. Results of Keyword Searches
at LOC Map Collections 1500-2002
Caribmap - A Cartographic History of the West Indies Caribmap is a growing set of lists of old and antique map images of the West Indies (1511-1922). Currently, the site stores sixty-three images in three resolutions, 250K, 700K, and 1,200K, all of which are downloadable. Viewing the Collection The collection is viewed by selecting an island on the home page or subsequent pages and then choosing an image in one of the three resolutions. Downloads can be made in windows with a Right Click and in Macintosh with Option-Click or by placing the cursor on the image and holding the mouse button until a dialog box appears. With some browser versions and or download preferences, the files will automatically download when clicked. Caribbean Content All of the map images are of Caribbean Islands. These
include the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto
Rico. Maps of the Lesser Antilles and the West Indies
are also available. Table 3 presents a summary index of
Caribmap image information. Table 3. Summary Index of the
Caribmap Database
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection Historical Maps of the Americas The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection online is a general collection of more than 5,000 map images of various resolutions usually indicated at the end of a map title. Most of the maps on this site are in the public domain. No permissions are needed to copy them and they may be downloaded and used as desired. Viewing the Collection There is no special viewer. The collection is viewed by selecting and clicking on an image file. Downloads can be made by a Right Click in Windows or Option-Click or placing the cursor on the image and holding the mouse button until a dialog box appears in Macintosh. With some browser versions, the files will automatically download when clicked. Caribbean Content Below is a list of the early 19th to early 20th century Caribbean maps found on the site and dates of publication.
Jamaica Parish Reference is a part of a web site made in support of genealogical research on the Prestwidge family. There are ten outline maps of Jamaica and twenty-six old and antique maps (1572-1967), most of which are also of Jamaica. Viewing the Collection Excluding three unnamed maps, all of the images are very high resolution and are displayed directly in the browser. Because there is no special viewer that allows the display of a selected area of a map, the entire image is loaded, a process that can take a very long time over a 56K modem connection. Loading several images in succession uses a great deal of RAM and can cause images not to be loaded in the browser. In the latter case, it is advised to bookmark the location, quit the browser, and then reopen the application. Downloads can be made by a Right Click in Windows or Option-Click or placing the cursor on the image and holding the mouse button until a dialog box appears in Macintosh. With some browser versions, the files will automatically download when clicked. Caribbean Content All ten outline maps are of Jamaica and depict the changing borders of counties and parishes over time, from before 1655 to the present. The title and caption associated with each outline map are listed below. Also, the outline maps are supplemented with high resolution images of early maps of Jamaica, dating from 1527 to 1967. These images are accompanied, in most cases, with a bibliographic note and comments panel. The complete list of identified maps also is listed below. Outline Maps of Jamaica Parishes
Early Maps of Jamaica on the Jamaica Parish Reference Web Site
15th - 17th Century Low Resolution MapsMost of the high resolution images of maps referred to above date from the 18 and 19th centuries and comparable resources for earlier maps have not been found to date. There are numerous web sites with low resolution images of early maps. One site in particular has an extensive listing of 15th, 16th and 17th century map images that are very useful for understanding the development of cartography of the Caribbean area. Cartographic Images is a web site hosted by Henry Davis Consulting and managed by Jim Siebold. The site, which has not been updated since February 1998, has 986 low resolution images of globes, whole maps, and map details for many historically important maps for the Ancient (6,000 B.C.-400 A.D.), Early and Late Medieval (400-1500) periods and for the Renaissance to the late 19th century (1500-1880). Each era has a chronological index and many of the images have detailed descriptions (monographs) and links to other maps at the bottom of the images. FileMaker Pro 4.0 databases of Cartographic Images have been made for each period and is available upon request. Please make requests to Jim Siebold at jsiebold@cfl.rr.com. Below is a select chronological listing of maps directly taken from the Renaissance period. The full index can be found at Slides/Photo CDs Illustrating Maps from the Renaissance Period 1500 - 1700. All the links open in a new window so that this page does not have to reload. Cartographic Images Illustrating Maps of the Late Medieval Period 1490 - 1690 A.D.257A. The Christopher Columbus Chart, detail world map, 257B. The Christopher Columbus Chart, detail: Africa, Christopher Columbus ?, 1490 257C. The Christopher Columbus Chart, outline, Christopher Columbus ?, modern 300. Map illustrating the geographical concepts of C. Columbus 302. West Indies, Christopher Columbus, 1492-93 303. Map of the Discoveries of Columbus, Christopher Columbus/Carolus Verardus, 1493 305. portolan world map, Juan de la Cosa, 1500 305A. world map, detail: Western Hemisphere, Juan de la Cosa, 1500 306. The "Cantino" Planisphere, unknown, 1502 306A. Cantino's world map, detail: western hemisphere 307. world map, Nicolo Caveri [Canerio], 1502-04 308. world map, Giovanni Contarini/ Francesco Rosselli, 1506 308A. world map, detail: Americas, Giovanni Contarini/ Francesco Rosselli, 1506 309. Annonynous world map, annonymous, 1502-06 310A. Universalis Cosmographia . . ., detail: South America, Martin Waldseemüller, (1507) first appearance of the name "America" 313A. Universailor Cogniti Orbis Tabula, detail: Asia and the New World, Johannes Ruysch, 1507 313B. Universailor Cogniti Orbis Tabula, detail: the New World, Johannes Ruysch, 1507 314A. Lenox Globe, unknown ,1503-1507 315. oval world map, Francesco Rosselli, 1508 316. Maggiolo world map, polar, Vesconte Maiolo [de Maggiolo], 1511 318. world map, Bernard Sylvanus, 1511 318A. world map, Bernard Sylvanus, detail: Western Hemisphere,1511 319.1 (Western Hemisphere), Johannes de Stobnicza, 1512 320A. Tabula Terre Nove (Admiral's Map), Martin Waldseemüller, 1513 322. Chart of the Ocean Sea, Piri Re'is, 1513 322B. Chart of the Ocean Sea, detail: Piri Re'is, 1513 323. world map, Cornelius Aurelius, 1514 324. Universalis Cosmographie . . ., Louis Boulengier, 1514 329. Ingolstadt/Nordenskiöld Gores, (unknown, from Ingolstadt), 1518 331. (world map), Peter Apianus, 1520 336. world map, Salviati, 1525 337. Hoc orbis Hemisphærium cedit regi Lusitaniæ/Hispaniæ, Franciscus Monachus, 1526 338. world map, Juan Vespucci, 1526 338A. world map, detail: North America, Juan Vespucci, 1526 338B. (world map), Juan Vespucci, detail: North America 340. world map, Vesconte Maggiolo, 1527 343. (world map in Bordone's Isolario), Benedetto Bordone, 1528 346. world map, Diego Ribero, 1529 346B. world map, detail: Western Hemisphere, Diego Ribero, 1529 346C. Ribero world map, detail: North America 347. world map, Girolamo de Verrazano, 1529 347A. world map, detail: North & South America, Girolamo de Verrazano, 1529 347B. world map, detail: east coast of North America, Girolamo de Verrazano, 1529 351. Bailly's Globe [Verrazano Globe], Robertus de Bailly, 1530 353. Typus Cosmographicus Universalis, S. Grynaeus/H. Hoblein/S. Münster, 1532 354. globe, Johannes Schöner, 1533 356. Recens, Et Integra Orbis Descriptio . . ., Oronce Fine, 1534 357. Paris Wooden Globe, (1535) 358. (globe gores), anonymous, 1535 359. globe gores, Georg Hartmann, 1535 364. Nova Integra . . ., Caspar Vopell, 1536 367. Regionis Orbis, Euphrosyne Ulpius, 1542 367A. Regionis Orbis, Euphrosyne Ulpius, 1542 368. Chart of the Gulf of Mexico, 1540 369. map of North America and West Indies, Jean Rotz, 1542 372. world map, Sebastian Cabot, 1544 372B. world map, detail: Pacific Ocean, Sebastian Cabot, 1544 372D. world map, detail: North America, Sebastian Cabot, 1544 372G. world map, detail: Eastern Hemisphere, Sebastian Cabot, 1544 373. Harleian Map, detail: east coast of North America, Pierre Descelier or Jean Rotz ?, 1544 378C. Dauphin Map, detail: North America, Pierre Descelier, 1546 381. Die Nüw Welt , Sebastian Münster, 1546 390. Western Hemisphere by Michael Tramezius, 1554 391. Lafreri Atlas, North America, Bolognino Zaltieri, 1556 395. Brazil/Patagonia, Diogo Homen, 1558 395.2. Brazil/Patagonia, detail: indians, Diogo Homen ,1558 396. "A Complete & Perfect Map Describing the Whole World", Haggi Ahmed ,1559 406. Nova Et Aucta Orbis Terrae Descriptio Ad Usum Navigantium emendate . . ., Gerard Mercator, 1569 406B. Nova Et Aucta Orbis Terrae . . ., detail: North America, Gerard Mercator, 1569 406E. Outline drawing, of Mercator world map of 1569 407. Septentrionalium terrarum descriptio (polar), Gerard Mercator, 1595 410A. Maris Pacifici. . ., Abraham Ortelius, 1589 418A. General Map of the Arctic Regions showing parts of North America . . ., Dr. John Dee, 1582 418A. A General Map of the Arctic Regions . . ., detail, North America), Dr. John Dee, 1582 419. North America, Michael Lok, 1582 431. Floridæa Americæa Provinciae . . .descriptio, Jacques LeMoyne/ deBry, 1590 435A. Hemispheriu Ab Aequinoctiali Linea, . . .detail: North America, Cornelius de Jode, 1593 436. South America, A.F. Langren/ Linschoten, 1595 441. world map, Matteo Ricci, 1602 452. Europa, Harmen Jansz[oon] en Marten, 1610 458. globe, Western Hemisphere (Chinese), Nicolo Lombardi/ Manual Dias, 1623 461. North America, Henry Briggs, 1625 464. world map, John Speed, 1627 Modern MapsPerry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - Maps of the Americas - a regionally and alphabetically arranged collection of low, medium, and high resolution maps (shaded relief, political, reference) of the North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with most of them being of CIA vintage. Some of the maps are in zoomable PDF format. Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - World City Maps - An alphabetical listing map images of the capitals and major cities in world including those in the Caribbean. Images files are low to high resolution. However, these maps issued by the U.S. Department of State are, in many cases, dated and inaccurate and are kept online by the PCL because in many cases they represent the only maps of these cities available on the Internet. For alternative source of world city maps, see Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - City Map Sites - as an supplementary listing of online world city maps. Lonely Planet Destinations - Choose Region (Americas) and then country. When the page is served click the country listed on the right. On next appearing click the icon or "Click here" in the "View Map" section found on the right side near the bottom portion of the page. MapQuest - World Altas - MapQuest provides clickable maps and drop down menus by which you may select low resolution map images of the continent, region, country, or U. S. state. You can also begin by selecting from their complete alphabetical listing of maps. You can e-mail maps to others. Geography - Merriam-Webster's Atlas - Select a country and a page will be served with a political map and associated country information to the right of the map. Maps.com - The most effective way to search this site is to do a place name search on the home page. When the place name page is served click one of the maps listed under online resources. Clicking outline maps yields only regional maps.Choice found under other headings (wall maps, digital maps, etc.) will present unviewable or unusable map images . These maps are for purchase only. This site worth exploring for other map and mapping needs. Calabash Skyviews.Com - This site provides downloadabel, usable, low resolution road maps for a number of Caribbean islands. National Geographic - Xpeditions Atlas - National Geographic provides low resolution GIF images, enlargeable GIF images and PDF files of maps of contintents and countries in the world. Maps are selected by using drop down menus and clickable maps of continents and countries. A customization feature allows users to determine the amount of detail in the map. The choices, detailed and basic and border on or off, yield, depending on choice made, maps with place names and borders, place names without borders, vice versa or a blank outline of the country and continent. MSN Learning and Reference - Map Center - The Map Center offers a clickable and zoomable globe as well as the ability ot select a region or country from a drop down menu. The GIF images are downloadable and are enlargeable in a graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop. Caribbean-On-Line-Caribbean Island Maps - This site is a good source for viewing country, city and detailed city area maps online only. Maps on this site are designed for viewing online and as a incentive to purchase high resolution digital or paper maps. Downloaded maps are of very low resolution and place names and other map details are to small to view. ReliefWeb - Map Search - ReliefWeb is the worldıs premier electronic clearinghouse for those needing timely information on humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters designed specifically to help the humanitarian community improve its response to emergencies. Your comments, suggestions and/or criticism will be greatly appreciated. Please send e-mail to: webmaster@rism.org |
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