discovery and exploration

Asiento present hordenat a payon les responsions dels pezos e mezures ...

Diagrammatic map of weights and measures in use in 27 Mediterranean and European seaports. Oriented with north to the right. Each port city is represented by a vignette of a prominent local tower and the vignet... more

De insulis nuper in mari Indico repertis

Christopher Columbus discovering America. Illus. in: In laudem Serenissimi Ferdinandi, Hispania[rum] Regis, Bethicae & regni Granatae obsidio victoria & triu[m]phus. Et De insulis in mari Indico nuper inuentis ... more

De insulis nuper in Mari Indico repertis [and] de insulis nuper invent...

A two-page spread from In laudem Serenissimi Ferdinandi, Hispania[rum] Regis, Bethicae & regni Granatae obsidio victoria & triu[m]phus. Et De insulis in Mari Indico nuper inuentis. [Basel] : I[ohann] B[ergmann,... more

Cosmographiae introductio

Martin Waldseemüller has been recognized as the first European cartographer to depict the New World discoveries as a separate continent, which he named "America." Waldseemüller was a member of a small group of ... more

Orbis typus uniuersalis iuxta hydrographorum traditionem

Waldseemüller may have had second thoughts about his 1507 proposal for naming the new continent "America." In 1513, he issued a fourth publication, a new edition of Claudius Ptolemy's Geographia. In it he incl... more

Portrait of a Man, Said to be Christopher Columbus (born about 1446, d...

Praeclara Ferdina[n]di Cortesii de noua maris oceani Hyspania narratio...

Map of America by Diego Ribero 1529.

Spanish; title in English. Pen-and-ink and blue watercolor, mounted on cloth, mounted on paper. Traced from a map by Diego Ribero. On label affixed in upper right corner: 41. Available also through the Library ... more

[Portolan chart of the Mediterranean and connecting seas].

Portolan chart with seaport names given for all coastlines. Does not cover Black Sea. Title devised by cataloguer. Oriented with north to the right (indicated by fleurs-de-lys). Contains 11 compass roses in a c... more

Portolan chart of the Pacific coast from Guatemala to northern Peru wi...

Spanish. Title supplied by cataloger. Pen-and-ink; black, blue, green, and red. Trimmed to a rough rectangle. Matted and mounted between sheets of transparent lucite. LC Luso-Hispanic world, 28 LC Nautical char... more

[Mapa del Golfo y costa de la Nueva España : desde el Río de Panuco ha...

Relief shown pictorially. Shows the coast from the vicinity of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina of the United States, location of Indian settlements, and lakes and rivers in the region to the Pánuco River ... more

Discovery of America: Vespucci Landing in America

Discovery of America: Vespucci Landing in America

[La Coruña. El Ferrol, Spain]

Ink on paper. Kraus, H.P. Sir Francis Drake, 50b Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image. Gift of Hans P. and Hanni Kraus.

Map of the Western Hemisphere

Title plate to Nova Reperta, a series of engravings after drawings by Stradanus published by Galle in Antwerp. Shows Christopher Columbus pointing to a map of the Western Hemisphere. New France and Florida are ... more

[Map of the coast of Virginia in 1585] / autore Ioanne With ; sculptor...

Illus. in: Admiranda narratio, fida tamen, de commodis et incolarvm ritibvs Virginiæ [...]. Wecheli : svmtibvs T. de Bry, 1590. Engraving by Theodor de Bry after watercolor by John White. The New World [...] / ... more

Gallorum ad Maij flumen navigatio

French expedition under Jean Ribaut enter the River of May (St. John's) in Florida. Illus. in: Brevis narratio eorvm qvæ in Florida Americæ provi̇cia Gallis acciderunt, : secunda in illam nauigatione, duce Rena... more

Entwerffung der Festung Carlsburg genannt

Bird's-eye view of French fort, Fort Caroline, at the mouth of the River of May (St. John's) in Florida. Illus. in: Der ander Theyl, der newlich erfundenen Landtschafft Americae, von dreyen Schiffahrten, so die... more

Galli locum condendae arci aptum deligunt

French begin to construct fort at the mouth of the River of May (St. John's) in Florida. Illus. in: Brevis narratio eorvm qvæ in Florida Americæ provi̇cia Gallis acciderunt, : secunda in illam nauigatione, duce... more

[Trophies and ceremonies after a victory]

Natives gathered at designated place to celebrate victory over their enemies, with Chief Holata Outina standing in foreground with French soldiers. Illus. in: Brevis narratio eorvm qvæ in Florida Americæ provi̇... more

The Natives of Florida worship the column erected by the commander on ...

Chief Athore with René Laudonnière, commander of the second French expedition to Florida, standing by column erected by Jean Ribaut during first expedition, showing Natives worshiping the column and many offeri... more

[The French arrive in Florida]

The arrival of the French expedition under Laudonnière at the River of May (St. John's) in Florida. Illus. in: Der ander Theyl, der newlich erfundenen Landtschafft Americae, von dreyen Schiffahrten, so die Fran... more

Christopher Columbus

Engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry. Proof impression of the plate printed on page 3 of Theodor de Bry, ed., Americae pars quinta (German edition: Americae das funffte Buch), Frankfurt, 1595. (Copies in Rosenwal... more

America sive novvs orbis respectv Evropaeorvm inferior globi terrestri...

America sive novus orbis respectu Europaeorum inferior globi terrestris pars Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Norumbega et Virginia

Wytfliet's publication was essentially the first atlas devoted solely to the Americas. It consisted of a world map, 18 regional maps, and a text on the discovery, natural history, and geography of the New World... more

New Inventions of Modern Times [Nova Reperta], Amerigo Vespucci Discov...

Wie die Franzosen ein gelegen Ort eine Festung zu bauwen erwehlet

French begin to construct fort at the mouth of the River of May (St. John's) in Florida.

Entwerffung der Festung Carlsburg genannt

Outline of French fort, Fort Caroline, at the mouth of the River of May (St. John's) in Florida. Illus. in: [America. pt. 2. German] Der ander Theil, der newlich erfundenen Landschafft Americae, von dreyen Schi... more

Descripsion des costs, pts., rades, illes de la Nouuele France faict s...

Shows coast of North America from western Nova Scotia to Cape Cod. Relief shown pictorially. Gift; Henry Harrisse; 1910. Pen-and-ink with green wash. Vellum chart collection, no. 15. LC Nautical charts on vellu... more

Virginia /

Sixth state. Relief shown pictorially. Oriented with north to the right. Accompanied by 2 exhibit notes and LC jacket note. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Haklvytvs posthumus, or, Pvrchas his Pilgrimes : contayning a history ...

Venezuela, cum parte Auftrali Novae Andalausiae.

Place names in Spanish. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. 2 copies; 1 copy as of 07/27/98 Vault

Virginiae item et Floridae Americae provincarum, nova descriptio

[Map of Atlantic Coast of North America from the Chesapeake Bay to Flo...

Shows coastal features, Native American nations and settlements, and other geographical entities. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Attributed to Joan Vinckeboons by comparison with his other Dutch maps in Henry Harr... more

[Map of the Peninsula of Florida].

Depths shown by soundings. Shows the Peninsula of Florida and adjacent islands from Rio de las Flores and includes coastline, coastal features, and pictorial representation of palm trees along the Atlantic Coas... more

[Map of the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico].

Relief shown pictorially. Shows coastal features, administrative districts, and settlements on the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Attributed to Joan Vinckeboons by comparison... more

De Eylanden en Vastelanden van Westindien /

[Map of the complete island of Cuba].

Caerte vande Bay St. Tiago : gelegen op 't Eylant Cvba, op de Hoochtv ...

Relief shown pictorially and by gradient tints. Shows Santiago Bay and vicinity on the island of Cuba including pictorial presentation of the city of Santiago. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Attributed to Joan Vin... more

Nova Virginiae tabvla

Relief shown pictorially. Oriented with north to right. "Amstelodami, ex officina Henrici Hondii." Accompanied by LC jacket note. Copied ? from John Smith map. Includes illustrations and coat-of-arms. Available... more

Amérique septentrionale /

Relief shown pictorially and by shading. Prime meridian: [Paris]. Mounted on cloth backing. From his 1658 (i.e. 1660) Cartes générales de toutes les parties du monde (Phillips 4260). First state: Lacks shading ... more

[Map of California shown as an island].

Relief shown pictorially. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault

La Floride /

Relief shown pictorially. Shows the coastline from Secotan in Virginia to Planuco in Mexico; the interior is shown to 40 degrees of latitude north and includes lakes and rivers in the region. Prime meridian: [F... more

West-Indische paskaert waer in de graden der breedde over weder zijden...

Shows the west coast of North America from Belle Isle, Newfoundland, both coasts of South America, mediterranean Europe, and the east coast of Africa. Includes illustrations. Available also through the Library ... more

A mapp of Virginia discovered to ye hills, and in it's latt. from 35 d...

Relief shown pictorially. Based on a manuscript map drawn by John Farrer. Oriented with north to the right. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes text, portrait of ... more

Manatvs gelegen op de Noot [sic] Riuier.

Manuscript. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Covers New York City region. Pictorial map showing buildings and points of interest. Depths shown by soundings. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as... more

Brasilia.

From the author's De Nieuwe en onbekende weereld: of Beschryving van America en 't zuid-land..., 1671 Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image. LC copy mounted on cloth backing.

A chart of the South Sea

Map of the Pacific Ocean, being the first English map of the Pacific Ocean, loosely based on Jansson's 1650 map of the Pacific but much updated with additional coverage of the Gulf Coast and the southeastern co... more

Virginia and Maryland as it is planted and inhabited this present year...

Oriented with north to the right. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Includes cartouche, portait of Augustine Herrman, text, and ill. Vault

Carte de la decouverte faite l'an 1673 dans l'Amerique Septentrionale ...

Oriented with north to the right. Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

Carte de la découverte faite l'an 1673 dans l'Amérique septentrionale.

Oriented with north to the right. Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

The Mississippi /

Relief shown pictorially. Shows trees, animals, and names of the Indian nations. Pen-and-ink and watercolor; detached from paper and mounted on cloth backing. "This is the copy of a sketch of the Mississippi Ri... more

Carte de l'Amerique Septentrionnale : depuis le 25, jusqu'au 65⁰ deg. ...

Copied between 1909 and 1910 from the original 1688 ms. in the Archives du dépôt des cartes et plans de la marine. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. In margin: Bibliotheque du Depot des cartes et plans de la Marina, ... more

Mappe-monde, dressé sur les observations de mrs. de l'Academie royale ...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes illustrations and 4 small hemispherical polar projections. Appears in Sanson's Atlas nouveau. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. French... more

Avantures mal-heureuses du Sieur de la Salle / J. Van Vian en del. et ...

Print shows La Salle, priests and others on shore as supplies are unloaded from a ship. Title from item. Illus. in: Nouveau voyage d'un pais plus grand que l'Europe avec les reflections des entreprises du Sieur... more

[The Buffalo]

Print shows a buffalo, a pelican, and a possum, hanging from a tree, in a forest Title devised by library staff. Illus. in: A new discovery of a vast country in America / Louis Hennepin. London : Printed for M.... more

Carta de las mares conprehendidas entre el Estrecho de Banca y Pto. Ti...

Discrección de la costa de Yucatan, Sonda de Campeche y baxos adjacent...

Shows northern Yucatán Peninsula. Also shows routes of expeditions on 1 map. Depths shown by soundings. Watermark: Unidentifiable. Pen-and-ink and red watercolor. Mounted on cloth backing. LC Luso-Hispanic Worl... more

Descripción de la costa de Yucatan, Sonda de Campeche y baxos adjacent...

Shows northern Yucatán Peninsula. Also shows routes of expeditions on 1 map. Depths shown by soundings. Watermark: Strasburg bend and fleur-de-lis. Pen-and-ink and green watercolor. Mounted on cloth backing. LC... more

Carta esférica que compde. una pte. del Archipielago de los Galapagos ...

Also shows routes of expeditions. Pen-and-ink and red ink. Mounted on cloth backing. LC Luso-Hispanic World, 413 Maggs number annotated in pencil in lower right margin: 135. Available also through the Library o... more

Mappe-monde, dressé sur les observations de mrs. de l'Academie royale ...

Relief shown pictorially. Shows nautical exploration routes. Includes illustrated cartouche. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

Discrección de la costa de Yucatan, Sonda de Campeche y bajos adjacent...

Shows northern Yucatán Peninsula. Also shows routes of expeditions on 1 map. Depths shown by soundings. Watermark: PVL [Pieter van Ley] in 1 character. Pen-and-ink and red and yellow watercolors. Mounted on clo... more

Les costes aux environs de la rivière de Misisipi : découvertes par Mr...

Relief shown pictorially. Shows locations of Indian villages found by La Salle during his explorations of the coastal areas of the United States. From: L'Atlas curieux / N. de Fer. Available also through the Li... more

Carte de la rivière de Mississipi : sur les mémoires de Mr. Le Sueur q...

Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Relief shown pictorially. Also shows cities and towns and features in the region along the Mississippi River. In lower right corner: Archives du Dépôt des cartes et plans de la marin... more

Carte de la riviere Longue : et de quelques autres, qui se dechargent ...

Map 1 covers area of Minnesota River, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Mississippi River south to Saint Louis. Map 2 covers the area west of the Minnesota River. Both maps drawn within same neat lines, divided... more

Nova delineatio totius orbis terrarum

Shirley, Rodney W. Mapping of the world. 1983, 417 Relief shown pictorially. Includes illustrations. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Title in Latin and French. Most pl... more

A new map of the country of Louisiana and of ye river Missisipi in Nor...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes illustrations, including an Illustrated cartouche and a view of Niagara Falls, and an index. LC copy mounted on cloth. Phillips, A list of maps of America, p. 367 Available al... more

This map of North America, according to ye newest and most exact obser...

Scale ca. 1:15,000,000. Hand colored. Relief shown pictorially. "To the Right Honourable John Lord Sommers, Baron of Evesham in ye county of Worcester, President of Her Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council &... more

Carte de la Louisiane et du cours du Mississipi [i.e. Mississippi]: dr...

Covers United States from Rio Grande River to Hudson River. Relief shown pictorially. Prime meridian: Ferro. Item 46 in LC Kohl exhibition, Mar. to June 1993. Phillips. Maps of America. Includes notes. Inset: C... more

Carte de la Louisiane et du cours du Mississippi ...

2nd State. [Blueprint is 3rd State] Colonial America. See English translation in Senex's New General Atlas, 1721, dedicated to Wm. Law. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.... more

La Californie ou Nouvelle Caroline : teatro de los trabajos, Apostolic...

Relief shown pictorially. McLaughlin, G. Mapping of California as an island, 196 Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault 2 copies; copy 2 is b&w

La Californie ou Nouvelle Caroline : teatro de los trabajos, Apostolic...

Relief shown pictorially. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault

El almirante Christoral Colon descubre la Isla Españ̃ola, iy haze pone...

Etching shows Christopher Columbus being greeted by native people upon his landing on the island of Hispanola. In the background, soldiers plant a cross and native women flee from the arriving sailors. Illus. i... more

Carte generale de la terre : ou mappe monde auec les quatre principau ...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes text, illustrations, including an armillary sphere and astronomical diagrams, table showing various units of measurement, and measurements of the size of the earth. Available ... more

[De Quelle maniere Tascaluça reçut General]

The manner in which Toscaluça received the General. Illus. in: Histoire de la conquete de la Floride / par Ferdinand de Soto. Composée en Espagnol par L'Inca Garcillasso de la Vega. Tome second. Aleide : Pierre... more

[Mort de trois Espagnols, & le tourmens que soffrit Jean Ortis]

The killing of three Spaniards and torture of Juan Ortiz. Illus. in: Histoire de la conquete de la Floride ... par Ferdinand de Soto ... / L'Inca Gardillasso de la Vega. Aleide : Pierre Vander, 1731, oppos. p. ... more

[Resolution des Indiens, & leur fortir de l'étang]

Resolution of the Indians and their coming out of the pond. Illus. in: Histoire de la conquete de la Floride /par Ferdinand de Soto. Composée en Espagnol par L'Inca Garcillasso de la Vega. Tome premier. Aleide ... more

[Découverte d'une trahison dans Mauvila]

Discovery of treachery in Mauvila.

[L'Armée passe le fleuve de Cosaciqui]

The army passing the Cosaciqui River.

[Entrée de Espagnols dans la Province de Chicaça]

Entry of the Spanish into the Province of Chicaça. Illus. in: Histoire de la conquete de la Floride ... / par Ferdinand de Soto; Composée en Espagnol par L'Inca Garcillasso de la Vega. Tome second. Aleide : Pie... more

Carte de la Province et Colonie de la Louisiane, dans la partie Septen...

Shows the Mississippi River and tributaries from the Illinois River south to the Gulf of Mexico. Gift; Partial funding for this purchase from the Ed Cox Legacy Fund; 2007. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Available ... more

A new and correct map of the world laid down according to the newest d...

Relief shown pictorially. Appears in Moll's World described. Includes illustrations including the Ptolemean and Copernican systems and the sun, moon and planets, ancillary hemisphere map centered on the North P... more

L'hydrographie françoise : recueil des cartes générales et particulièr...

Phillips, 587 Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.

Carte du Perou, pour servir à l'histoire des Incas et à celle de l'e...

Carte du Lac Champlain depuis le Fort Chambly jusqu'a celuyde St. Fréd...

Shows landowners along the shore of Lake Champlain. Pen and ink and colored ink. Similar to map created by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry in 1732. Oriented with north to the right. At top of title cartouche... more

Travajo personal que en la inspesion de esta corta obra tubo el Ro. Pe...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes text and legend. Covers the territory from Santa Fé west to the Colorado River and south to the Chihuaha. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster i... more

L' hemisphere meridional pour voir plus distinctement les terres austr...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes text and "Plan et vue du Cap de la Circoncision". LC copy stamped on: 321. Annotated "Early American maps, no. 8" in upper left corner. Trimmed to neat line, laminated and mou... more

Carte réduite des découvertes des Russes, entre l'Asie et l'Amerique.

Prévost ed., 1747. Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image. Vault

Carte particulière du cours du fleuve St. Louis depuis le village sauv...

Shows the Mississippi River in the vicinity of New Orleans from Colapissas to English Turn, lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, location of Native American settlements, fortifications, and natural features. Pen-a... more

Plan général du Fort Septentrional du Detour des Anglois, tel qu'il es...

Relief shown pictorially. Shows buildings, internal facilities, and surrounding area. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Mounted on cloth backing. Copy annotated in pencil in lower left margin: 84482. A progress repor... more

Carta de la Provincia de Quito y de sus adjacentes /

Relief shown pictorially and by hachures. "En que la costa desde la Boca de Esmeraldas hasta Tunaco con la Derrota de Quito al Marañon, por una senda de à pie de Baños à Canelos, y el curso de los Rios Bobonac̦... more

Hemisphere meridional pour voir plus distinctement les terres australe...

Relief shown pictorially. Includes text and "Plan et vue du Cap de la Circoncision". LC copy imperfect: foldlined. Mended tear from top to bottom in left half. Available also through the Library of Congress Web... more

George Washington's map, accompanying his "journal to the Ohio", 1754.

Title annotated. Facsimile from Massachusetts' Historical Society Collections, vol. 61. Reproduced in The George Washington Atlas, 1932, plate 11. Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a ra... more

Map of the country about the Mississippi.

Not drawn to scale. Title from verso. Manuscript, pen and ink. Oriented with north toward the upper right. Shows area from Lake Erie to the mouth of the Ohio River. Also mounted on sheet, in same handwriting as... more