Antique Maps of the Pacific Ocean
Western mapping of the Pacific Ocean began in the mid-16th century, but it took over 200 years before western exploration had discovered and mapped the major islands. This web site presents a variety of images of antique maps printed prior to 1800, showing the changes brought about by this exploration.
The site is divided into three main sections:
- Pacific Ocean
- maps showing the Pacific ocean in its entirety
- Pacific Ocean Islands
- maps of individual islands and island groups
- California as an Island
- maps and details showing the long-term myth that California was an island
A fourth page covers the general topic of place names on antique maps.
Other links to antique map web sites:
- Library of Congress: Map Collections 1544-1999
- an extremely well done site with a powerful tool for examining maps on-line
- Cartographic Images
- a collection of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance maps
- Odden's Bookmarks
- a great collection of links to other cartographic sites (not just for antique maps), including numerous university and museum sites with special displays
The map images on this web site were obtained from a wide variety of sources. Most were obtained from web sites for antique map dealers from around the world, and most are available for purchase (from the dealers - not from me!)
The following dealers have especially strong selections of maps of the Pacific Ocean:
The following dealers have more general selections, but have a strong emphasis on early (pre-1800) maps:
- Altea Maps & Books
- Antique Atlas
- Roderick M. Barron
- Tim Bryars Ltd.
- Brian DiMambro Rare Books
- FairWinds Antique Maps
- Grace Galleries
- J.A.L. Franks
- Garwood-Voight
- Leen Helmink Antique Maps
- Lee Jackson
- Richard Nicholson of Chester
- Philadelphia Print Shop
- Philographikon Gallery
- Postaprint
- Jonathan Potter Limited
- Robert Putnam Antiquarian Maps & Books
- Barry Lawrence Ruderman
- Suarez Rare Maps & Atlases
- Tooley Adams & Co.
- Worldview Antique Maps and Books
Additional images were obtained from the following web sites associated with universities or libraries:
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University Library
- National Library of Australia
- David Rumsey Collection
- James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota
Copyright credit is included when the web site or map image so indicated.
