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Pre-1500 Maps

Maps from various collections dated before the XVI century.Created by: NYPL's Public Domain ArchiveDated: 1500
Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border.
During the Medieval period, European maps were dominated by religious views. All maps were, of course, drawn and illuminated by hand, which made the distribution of maps extremely limited.

Medieval geography divided the world into three schematic parts: Asia, Europe, and Africa. Asia was depicted on top as the birthplace of Christ and the original site of the Garden of Eden. A T-O map (orbis terrarum, orb or circle of the lands; with the letter T inside an O), also known as an Isidoran map, is a type of early world map that represents the physical world as first described by the 7th-century scholar Isidore of Seville in his De Natura Rerum and later his Etymologiae.

In this map format, Jerusalem was depicted at the center and east was oriented toward the map top. The design had great religious significance, with the “T” representing the central Christian symbol of the cross and placing Jerusalem at the center of the world. The “T” also separated the continents of the known world—Asia, Europe, and Africa—and the “O” that enclosed the entire image, represented the medieval idea of the world surrounded by water.
78 Media in collectionpage 1 of 1
Motvs . noue . spere . et . trepvdacionis . octave . spere . 1514

Motvs . noue . spere . et . trepvdacionis . octave . spere . 1514

Picryl description: Public domain image of an ornamental print, pattern design, mannerism, baroque, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Universalis cosmographia secundum Ptholomæi traditionem et Americi Vespucii aliorū que lustrationes.

Universalis cosmographia secundum Ptholomæi traditionem et Americi Ves...

Public domain scan of a vintage map, city plan, atlas, cartoghraphy, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawings of cities.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawings of cities.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Ninth map of Europe (the Balkans, northern Greece, the Dardanelles and Byzantium), in full gold border.

Ninth map of Europe (the Balkans, northern Greece, the Dardanelles and...

Public domain scan of an old vintage map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map
Eighth vision: as John watches, God in heaven sends a flowing river through the city of Jerusalem; John attempts to worship an angel who instead points to God. (Apoc. 22:1-9)

Eighth vision: as John watches, God in heaven sends a flowing river th...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Personifications ...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Personifications ...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Explicit of La Sfera, with initials, map and town of Tana

Explicit of La Sfera, with initials, map and town of Tana

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

First map of Europe (Britain and Ireland).  Full gold border.

First map of Europe (Britain and Ireland). Full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Sixth map of Europe (Italy, Corsica), in full gold border.

Sixth map of Europe (Italy, Corsica), in full gold border.

Public domain document scan of map of France, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Page of text with initials and map showing Troy and Rhodes?  Note hand with cursive elements.

Page of text with initials and map showing Troy and Rhodes? Note hand...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map stretching across both pages, with small drawings of cities.

Text with red and blue initials. Map stretching across both pages, wi...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map

Public domain image of a vintage map, geography atlas, maritime navigation, age of discovery, 16th-17th century architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawing of city.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawing of city.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawings of cities.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawings of cities.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Seventh map of Europe (Sardinia and Sicily), in full gold border.

Seventh map of Europe (Sardinia and Sicily), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map

Public domain image of an artwork, medieval, renaissance, 14th, 15th, 16th-century art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Fourth map of Africa (Egypt and Sinai), in full gold border.

Fourth map of Africa (Egypt and Sinai), in full gold border.

Public domain image of Egyptian art, free to use, no copyright restrictions photo - Picryl description

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Universalis cosmographie descriptio tam in solido quem plano

Universalis cosmographie descriptio tam in solido quem plano

Public domain scan of 16th-century print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Tenth map of Asia (India), with full gold border.

Tenth map of Asia (India), with full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Eleventh map of Asia (southeast Asia), in full gold border.

Eleventh map of Asia (southeast Asia), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Twelfth map of Asia, in full gold border.

Twelfth map of Asia, in full gold border.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, rubrics, one chart showing map of the world.

Text with red and blue initials, rubrics, one chart showing map of the...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Page of text with maps, including T-map. Rubric and initials.

Page of text with maps, including T-map. Rubric and initials.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Personifications ...

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Second map of Africa (Libya), in full gold border.

Second map of Africa (Libya), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Text with map filling blank spaces, small drawings of cities, including skyline of Cairo in lower right corner.
First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

Public domain image of an artwork, medieval, renaissance, 14th, 15th, 16th-century art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, rubrics, map with small drawings of cities, church.
Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawings of unlabelled cities.
Text (beginning of book three), map and miniature showing four winds.

Text (beginning of book three), map and miniature showing four winds.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, map.

Text with red and blue initials, map.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map.

Text with red and blue initials. Map.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Third map of Africa (eastern Libya and Egypt), in full gold border.

Third map of Africa (eastern Libya and Egypt), in full gold border.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Third map of Asia (Caspian Sea and surrounding), in full gold border).

Third map of Asia (Caspian Sea and surrounding), in full gold border).

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawings of unlabelled cities.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawings of unlabelle...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Explicit, with map and red and blue initials.
Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawings of cities.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawings of cities.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawing of city.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawing of city.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map

View of Jerusalem - Public domain vintage map

Public domain image of an old city plan, vintage cartography, 18th-19th century map, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Fourth map of Europe (Germany) in gold border.  Commentary text in brown border with gold rubrics and 4-line gold initial on blue and green field.

Fourth map of Europe (Germany) in gold border. Commentary text in bro...

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Fourth map of Asia (Middle east and Cyprus), in full gold border.

Fourth map of Asia (Middle east and Cyprus), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Fifth map of Asia, in full gold border.

Fifth map of Asia, in full gold border.

Public domain scan of a vintage map, city plan, atlas, cartoghraphy, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Eighth map of Asia, in full gold border.

Eighth map of Asia, in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Text with red and blue initials, map with small drawings of unlabelled cities.

Text with red and blue initials, map with small drawings of unlabelled...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Page of text with map and catchword.

Page of text with map and catchword.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials.  Map.

Text with red and blue initials. Map.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Second map of Asia (Byzantium and surrounding), in full gold border.

Second map of Asia (Byzantium and surrounding), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of an old vintage map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Personifications ...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Eighth vision: John watches as the new Jerusalem is sent by God from heaven; an angel has carried John to a mountain where he shows John the holy city. (Apoc. 21:1-11)

Eighth vision: John watches as the new Jerusalem is sent by God from h...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Fifth map of Europe (the Balkans), with gold border, commentary text in pink border with 4-line gold inital on pink and blue field.

Fifth map of Europe (the Balkans), with gold border, commentary text i...

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Seventh map of Asia (Caspian Sea and east),in full gold border.

Seventh map of Asia (Caspian Sea and east),in full gold border.

Public domain scan of a vintage map, city plan, atlas, cartoghraphy, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, rubrics, map with small drawings of cities.
Text with red and blue initials.  Map.

Text with red and blue initials. Map.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Personifications ...

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.  Personifications of the winds.  Full gold border

Map of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Personifications ...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Second map of Asia (Byzantium and surrounding), in full gold border.

Second map of Asia (Byzantium and surrounding), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Jericho: Town Plan and Rahab's House

Jericho: Town Plan and Rahab's House

Public domain scan of a plan, map, architecture drawing, or diagram, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

First map of Africa (Straits of Gibraltar, northwest Africa), in full gold border.

First map of Africa (Straits of Gibraltar, northwest Africa), in full ...

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Text with red and blue initials, rubrics, map with small drawings of cities.
Text with red and blue initials.  Map with small drawings of cities, church.

Text with red and blue initials. Map with small drawings of cities, c...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Second map of Europe (Spain).  Full gold border.

Second map of Europe (Spain). Full gold border.

Public domain image of an artwork, medieval, renaissance, 14th, 15th, 16th-century art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Tenth map of Europe (Mainland Greece and the islands), in full gold border.

Tenth map of Europe (Mainland Greece and the islands), in full gold bo...

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

First map of Asia (Asia minor), in full gold border.

Public domain image of an artwork, medieval, renaissance, 14th, 15th, 16th-century art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, map with small drawings of unlabelled cities.

Text with red and blue initials, map with small drawings of unlabelled...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Third map of Europe (France and Belgium).  Full gold border.  Commentary text in green border, with gold rubrics and 4-line gold initial on green, pink and blue field.

Third map of Europe (France and Belgium). Full gold border. Commenta...

Public domain scan of a vintage map, city plan, atlas, cartoghraphy, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Eighth map of Europe, in full gold border.

Eighth map of Europe, in full gold border.

Public domain scan of an old vintage map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, map with small drawings of unlabelled cities.

Text with red and blue initials, map with small drawings of unlabelled...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials. Map.

Text with red and blue initials. Map.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Second map of Asia (Byzantium and surrounding), in full gold border.

Second map of Asia (Byzantium and surrounding), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of 15th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ninth map of Asia, in full gold border.  Commentary text in green border with gold rubrics, 4-line gold initial on pink, blue and green field.

Ninth map of Asia, in full gold border. Commentary text in green bord...

Public domain scan of an 18th-century map, vintage, old, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Sixth map of Asia (Arabian peninsula), in full gold border.

Sixth map of Asia (Arabian peninsula), in full gold border.

Public domain scan of an old vintage map, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.

Text with red and blue initials, rubric, two maps including one T map.

Text with red and blue initials, rubric, two maps including one T map.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, medieval or early renaissance, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.