17th–19th Century French & Iberian Surveys | Rubini Antique Maps and Prints

Cataloged Works in this Collection

Johnson's France, Spain and Portugal
Cartographer / Artist: Johnson & Ward
Date: c. 1864
Medium: Engraving with original hand coloring
Dimensions: 16.5 × 26.5 inches
Location: France, Spain, Portugal
This detailed mid-nineteenth-century map depicts the nations of France, Spain, and Portugal, highlighting their internal departmental and provincial subdivisions through vibrant hand-applied watercolor outlines. Published by Alvin Jewett Johnson and Benjamin P. Ward, this map represents the peak of mid-19th century commercial American atlas production. Insets in the lower right detail the island of Corsica as well as a topographical profile and overview of the Rock of Gibraltar. The composition is framed by Johnson's signature geometric fretwork and rosette border, complete with decorative corner star motifs. Geographical coverage extends from the southern coast of England across the English Channel to the northern coast of Africa, encompassing the entirety of Southwestern Europe.
Cadurcium Vernaculé Querci
Cartographer / Artist: Willem Janszoon Blaeu and Joan Blaeu
Date: c. 1635
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 19.3 × 15.5 inches
Location: Quercy, France
This exceptionally detailed 17th-century map depicts the historic French province of Quercy, centered around Cahors along the Lot River in southwestern France. Bounded by neighboring historical regions such as Limousin, Auvergne, Rouergue, Albigeois, Languedoc, and Périgord, the map intricately illustrates cities, fortified villages, winding waterways, and hilly terrain. Published during the golden age of Dutch cartography, it reflects the high standard of geographical accuracy and artistic design characteristic of the Blaeu workshop. Decorative elements enrich the composition, including a prominent title cartouche at the upper right framed by hanging drapery and topped with a coat of arms. In the lower left corner, a distance scale cartouche features an allegorical female figure holding dividers beside a terrestrial globe. Bright hand coloring enhances the regional borders, topography, and heraldic embellishments across the entire sheet.
Bressia Vulgo Bresse
Cartographer / Artist: Willem Janszoon Blaeu
Date: c. 1635
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 19.1 × 19.2 inches
Location: Bresse, France
This finely executed seventeenth-century map depicts the historical province of Bresse in eastern France, published in Amsterdam by Willem Janszoon Blaeu. Orientated with North to the top, the map covers the region bounded by the Saône River to the west, Lake Geneva (Lacus Lemanus) and the Duchy of Savoy to the east, and the Lyonnais region to the south. Major regional centers including Bourg-en-Bresse, Geneva, and Belleville are detailed alongside topographical features such as the Jura mountain chain, forested tracts, and major lakes including Lac du Bourget. The map is embellished with classic Dutch Golden Age cartographic detail. The lower right corner features an ornate title cartouche framed by allegorical female figures bearing crops, symbolizing the agrarian abundance of the province. At the bottom center, putti and surveyors with sighting tools measure a distance scale labeled Milliaria Gallica communia, showcasing the intellectual and artistic sophistication characteristic of the Blaeu firm.
Perchensis Comitatus, La Perche Comté & Comitatus Blesensis, Blaisois
Cartographer / Artist: Willem Janszoon Blaeu and Jean Temporée
Date: c. 1635
Medium: Copperplate map with hand coloring
Dimensions: 22.4 × 18.7 inches
Location: Le Perche and Blaisois, Centre-Val de Loire, France
This fine double-map folio sheet depicts two historical provinces of central-western France: the County of Perche (Perchensis Comitatus) on the left panel and the County of Blois (Comitatus Blesensis or Blaisois) on the right panel. Published in Amsterdam by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, the Blaisois map credits the French regional mapping of mathematician and cartographer Jean Temporée (Ioanne Temporio). Together, the maps provide a comprehensive geographical snapshot of the region during the early seventeenth century, a period when Dutch cartographic masterworks dominated European atlas production. The left map focuses on the rolling hills, dense forests, and river networks of Le Perche, noting key towns such as Nogent-le-Rotrou, Mortagne, and Belleme alongside prominent features like the Forest of Montmirail. The right map highlights the strategic and fertile Loire Valley around the royal city of Blois, tracing the course of the Loire River between Orléans and Tours. Both panels are adorned with fine Mannerist cartouches flanked by putti, scale bars in French miles (Milliaria Gallica), and meticulously engraved topographical details indicating settlements, woodlands, and mountain ridges.
Partie Méridionale du Gouvernement Général de Champagne
Cartographer / Artist: Gilles Robert de Vaugondy
Date: c. 1750
Medium: Copperplate map with hand coloring
Dimensions: 25.9 × 18.0 inches
Location: Champagne, France
This 18th-century copperplate map by Gilles Robert de Vaugondy depicts the southern region of the General Government of Champagne in France. Published during the height of French Enlightenment cartography, the map showcases the administrative divisions of the Ancien Régime, including Champagne propre, Vallage, Bassigny, Senonois, and portions of Brie and Perthois. The engraving renders a densely populated landscape filled with towns, fortified villages, monastic sites, and prominent river networks such as the Seine, Marne, and Aube rivers. Major regional settlements including Troyes, Chaumont, Bar-le-Duc, and Langres are clearly delineated alongside topographical features like forests and rolling hill ranges. Artistically, the map features an elaborate decorative rococo cartouche in the lower left corner framing the title and authorship details, complete with architectural elements and foliage. Original outline hand coloring delineates the provincial boundaries, complemented by a scale bar in the top right corner.
Lugdunum vulgo Lion - Vienna vulgo Vienne de France
Cartographer / Artist: Joris Hoefnagel, Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg
Date: c. 1575
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 18.5 × 14.0 inches
Location: Lyon and Vienne, France
This fine Renaissance double prospect originates from Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg's famed town atlas, Civitates Orbis Terrarum. The print depicts two key historic cities along the Rhône River in southeastern France: Lyon (Lugdunum) on the upper panel and Vienne (Vienna) on the lower panel. Delineated by Flemish artist Joris (Georg) Hoefnagel after earlier prototypes, the views combine accurate topographical detail with scenic artistic compositions characteristic of late 16th-century cartography. The upper image illustrates Lyon with its city walls, church spires, and river commerce on the Saône and Rhône, anchored by a key identifying twelve key municipal landmarks. The lower panel depicts Vienne, showcasing its extensive stone walls and the dramatic ruins of the Château de Pipet perched atop the hill overlooking the valley.
Brevet de Pointe: Fraternité, Courage et Concorde
Cartographer / Artist: Fabrique d'Estampes de Gangel
Date: c. 1855
Medium: Hand-colored lithograph
Dimensions: 17.5 × 11.8 inches
Location: Metz, France
This vibrant hand-colored lithograph represents an official French military fencing certificate or 'Brevet de Pointe,' issued to recognize martial skill and mastery of swordsmanship. The central composition illustrates two fencers actively engaged in a bout, wearing wire mesh protective masks and holding foils within an ornate neoclassical hall. A central bust inscribed 'Le Héros du Monde' stands prominently in the background archway framed by classical columns and decorative drapery. Surrounding the duelists are arrayed French military officers and soldiers representing various regiments and ranks in full dress uniform, serving as official witnesses. The scene is enclosed within a highly decorative scrollwork border bearing patriotic French slogans such as 'Tout pour la France,' 'Honneur à la France,' and 'Gloire à la France.' Published in Metz by the prominent printmaker Gangel, the lower portion of the sheet contains printed calligraphic text with blank fields designed for custom inscriptions by fencing masters.
Veue de Casal dit de St. Vas
Cartographer / Artist: Pierre Mortier
Date: c. 1700
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 23.3 × 19.6 inches
Location: Casale Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy
This fine early 18th-century hand-colored copperplate engraving presents a dramatic bird's-eye panorama and inset ground plan of the fortified city of Casale Monferrato (Casal dit de St. Vas) situated along the Po River in northwestern Italy. Published in Amsterdam by Pierre Mortier, the view highlights the extensive star-fort fortifications, defensive walls, bastions, and prominent citadel that rendered the city a key strategic stronghold during European military conflicts of the period. The upper visual composition captures the town from an elevated perspective, detailing the dense urban fabric, church spires, surrounding countryside, rolling hills, and the winding course of the Po River. In the foreground, figures in contemporary travelers attire on horseback and foot animate the rural landscape. In the lower right corner, a detailed inset map illustrates the precise military architecture of the hexagonal citadel and town ramparts alongside the river branches.
A New and Exact Map of France Divided into all its Provinces and Acquisitions
Cartographer / Artist: Herman Moll
Date: c. 1715
Medium: Engraving with hand coloring
Dimensions: 35.3 × 22.8 inches
Location: France
This impressive two-sheet engraved map of France was executed by the renowned London cartographer Herman Moll during the early eighteenth century. It depicts the Kingdom of France divided into its historic provinces and recent territorial acquisitions following the expansionist wars of Louis XIV. The map extends to encompass neighboring regions including southern England, the Spanish Netherlands, the Holy Roman Empire, Switzerland, Piedmont, and northern Spain. A fine compass rose decorates the Bay of Biscay, while detailed post roads and calculated distances between major urban centers are traced throughout the landscape. The visual presentation is dominated by an elaborate cartouche in the lower left corner featuring allegorical figures representing military triumph, wisdom, and royalty alongside the French royal coat of arms. Flanking the map on the left and right margins are extensive typographic tables, including an alphabetical gazetteer of principal towns, distance charts, and a detailed list of mountain passes through the Pyrenees. Original hand coloring in outline effectively distinguishes regions such as Normandy, Brittany, Guienne, Languedoc, and Provence.
Der Nord-Westliche Theil von Frankreich
Cartographer / Artist: Adolf Stieler and Friedrich von Stülpnagel (Justus Perthes)
Date: 1833
Medium: Steel engraving with original outline hand color
Dimensions: 14.2 × 14.8 inches
Location: Northwestern France and Southern England
This detailed 1833 German map illustrates the northwestern region of France—including Brittany, Normandy, Maine, and Anjou—alongside the English Channel and the southern coastline of England. Created by Friedrich von Stülpnagel based on specifications by renowned cartographer Adolf Stieler, the sheet was published by Justus Perthes in Gotha as plate No. 14c for Stieler's celebrated Hand-Atlas. The cartography provides exceptional detail for towns, ports, rivers, coastal features, and regional administrative boundaries defined in fine hand-colored outlines. The top portion of the map clearly depicts the English Channel, labeled 'La Manche oder Der Brittische Canal', anchored above by southern English counties from Cornwall to Kent with key towns such as London, Bristol, Dover, and Portsmouth marked. Finely etched hachuring represents relief and topography throughout both the French interior and coastal islands. The decorative title cartouche in the lower-left corner incorporates classic script and geometric rules typical of early 19th-century German cartographic design.
Der Südliche Theil von Frankreich nebst einem Theile von Spanien
Cartographer / Artist: Friedrich von Stülpnagel and Adolf Stieler (Justus Perthes)
Date: 1855
Medium: Steel engraving with hand-colored outlines
Dimensions: 16.95 × 13.9 inches
Location: Southern France and Northern Spain
This detailed 1855 mid-nineteenth-century map depicts the southern regions of France alongside northern border areas of Spain, stretching from the Bay of Biscay across the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean coastline. Published in Gotha by Justus Perthes as part of the renowned Stieler's Hand-Atlas, the sheet was drawn by Friedrich von Stülpnagel based on geographical data by Adolf Stieler. The topography is rendered with fine hachuring, capturing the rugged mountain passes of the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, and the Maritime Alps with exceptional precision. In addition to natural geographical features, the map delineates regional boundaries, major urban centers, river networks, and early railway routes active or projected during the mid-1850s. An elegant oval title cartouche occupies the lower right quadrant over the Mediterranean Sea, accompanied by graphic distance scales and revision notes.
Frankreich und Umgebungen von Paris
Cartographer / Artist: Friedrich von Stülpnagel / Justus Perthes
Date: 1852
Medium: Engraving with hand-colored outline
Dimensions: 17.8 × 14.6 inches
Location: France
This mid-nineteenth-century engraved map depicts France alongside its neighboring European territories, including portions of southern England, Belgium, western Germany, Switzerland, northern Italy, and northern Spain. Designed and drawn by Friedrich von Stülpnagel in 1829, re-engraved in 1838, and revised in 1852, the map was published in Gotha by the cartographic publisher Justus Perthes for Stieler's Hand-Atlas. Topography is rendered with detailed hachuring, highlighting mountain ranges such as the Alps, Massif Central, and Pyrenees, alongside departmental boundaries outlined in subtle hand-applied wash color. In the lower-left corner, an inset map titled 'Umgebung von Paris' displays an enlarged view of Paris and its immediate environs at three times the main scale, depicting early railway routes, suburban centers, and Versailles. The upper-right corner includes comparative distance scales measured in geographical miles, French leagues, Prussian kilometers, and nautical miles.
Johnson's France
Cartographer / Artist: Johnson and Ward
Date: c. 1864
Medium: Steel engraving with original hand coloring
Dimensions: 12.8 × 16.1 inches
Location: France
An attractive mid-19th century steel-engraved map of France published by Johnson and Ward for Johnson's Family Atlas. The map shows the country divided into departments with historical provinces noted, detailed with major cities, rivers, mountain ranges, rail lines, canals, and historic battlefields. An inset at the bottom left depicts the island of Corsica. Geographically, the map extends north across the English Channel to show southern England, east into Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland, and south to northern Spain. Beautifully rendered with Johnson's signature decorative fretwork border, the map features vivid original hand coloring in soft shades of pink, green, and yellow to delineate departmental borders.
Ager Parisiensis Vulgo L'Isle de France
Cartographer / Artist: François de La Guillotière and Henricus Hondius
Date: c. 1635
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 19.4 × 14.2 inches
Location: Paris, Île-de-France, France
This finely executed seventeenth-century map depicts the historical Île-de-France region surrounding Paris. Bounded by Beauvaisis to the north, Valois and Le Multien to the northeast, and Brie to the southeast, the cartography illustrates the regional river systems, including the meandering Seine and Marne rivers. Numerous individual towns, fortified villages, châteaux, and forested areas like the Forest of Chantilly are rendered with delicate architectural vignettes and topography. Originally surveyed by François de La Guillotière in the late sixteenth century and dedicated to the French scholar Pierre Pithou, this work was incorporated into major Dutch atlases during the seventeenth century. The upper-left corner features a grand decorative cartouche flanked by putti and armorial shields, while the lower-left displays a linear scale bar in French common leagues.
Carte Particulière des Costes de Normandie Depuis Dieppe jusqu'à la pointe de la Percée en Bessin
Cartographer / Artist: Alexis-Hubert Jaillot / Pierre Mortier
Date: c. 1693
Medium: Copperplate Engraving
Dimensions: 32.0 × 22.5 inches
Location: Normandy, France
This detailed 17th-century nautical chart depicts the coastline of Normandy, France, stretching from Dieppe westward to the Pointe de la Percée in Bessin. Published as part of monumental French maritime atlases such as Le Neptune François, the chart illustrates coastal settlements, river estuaries—notably the winding Seine River leading up to Rouen—sandbanks, and navigational hazards along the English Channel. The composition features two prominent decorative compass roses with a dense network of intersecting rhumb lines, designed to assist mariners in plotting courses along the Norman coast. Sounding data, anchorages, and coastal topographies are meticulously recorded alongside regional labels such as Pays de Caux and Bessin, making this print a landmark of early French scientific hydrography.
Département du Var - Atlas National Illustré
Cartographer / Artist: Victor Levasseur
Date: c. 1850
Medium: Steel engraving on paper
Dimensions: 22.1 × 13.7 inches
Location: Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
This decorative steel-engraved map depicts the department of Var in southeastern France, executed by cartographer Victor Levasseur for his landmark publication, the 'Atlas National Illustré des 86 Départements et des Possessions de la France'. The central map delineates regional boundaries, major towns, transport routes, and coastal topography along the Mediterranean shore, highlighting significant urban centers such as Toulon, Draguignan, and Brignoles alongside the Îles d'Hyères. Flanking the central map are intricate pictorial vignettes celebrating the commerce, agriculture, and culture of the Var region. Richly engraved scenes portray local commodities including olive oil, lemons, honey, soap, and paper alongside regional flora, flamingos, and harbor views. Portrait busts of famous local figures, including the renowned preacher Jean-Baptiste Massillon and the French Revolution politician Paul Barras, frame the top corners, complemented by a central coat of arms.
A New Map of France, Agreeable to its Division into Provinces, As previous to the Revolution
Cartographer / Artist: John Cary
Date: 1806
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 24.6 × 20.1 inches
Location: France
This refined copperplate engraved map, created by renowned British cartographer John Cary in 1806, depicts France structured according to its historical pre-1789 provincial boundaries. Published during the Napoleonic era, the map provides a retrospective geographical overview of traditional provinces—such as Brittany, Normandy, Champagne, Burgundy, Gascony, and Languedoc—highlighted through soft, contemporary outline hand coloring. Neighboring territories, including southern England across the English Channel, the Low Countries, western German states, Switzerland, northern Italy, and northern Spain, are carefully delineated with fine etching. Cary's characteristic cartographic clarity is evident throughout, featuring highly legible place names, detailed river networks, mountain ranges, and coastal details. An elegant oval title cartouche in the lower left quadrant explicitly references the map's reliance on the latest geographic authorities, accompanied by linear scale bars in British miles, French leagues, and German miles.
Geographical and Statistical Map of France
Cartographer / Artist: C. Gros and A. Lavoisne
Date: c. 1820
Medium: Engraving with hand coloring and letterpress text
Dimensions: 20.3 × 15.8 inches
Location: France
This elegant early 19th-century geographical sheet features a detailed hand-colored map of France surrounded by extensive statistical and historical letterpress panels. Prepared for Lavoisne's monumental Genealogical, Historical, Chronological, and Geographical Atlas, the central map depicts France divided into its traditional ancient provinces and regional governments, marking major cities, rivers, coastal features, and famous battle sites denoted with tiny flags. Flanking the map are dense educational texts providing a comprehensive overview of the nation's geography, administrative divisions, population, natural history, government, and religious history, alongside a detailed table of notable military engagements.
A New Map of France, Conformable to the Treaty of Paris, 1814
Cartographer / Artist: C. Gros and E. Pagenel / M. Carey & Son
Date: c. 1820
Medium: Hand-colored engraving with letterpress text
Dimensions: 20.5 × 16.5 inches
Location: France
This detailed historical map of France was engraved for the American edition of Lavoisne's Historical Atlas, published in Philadelphia by M. Carey & Son around 1820. Designed to illustrate the geopolitical layout of post-Napoleonic Europe, the central map reflects the territorial boundaries established by the Treaty of Paris in 1814, restoring France largely to its 1792 borders following the first abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte. Flanking the central map on both sides is extensive letterpress historical commentary detailing the political events leading to the Restoration, the reorganization of French departments, and the diplomatic adjustments negotiated among the Allied Powers. Below the map, a chronological reference table details significant battles, sieges, and military engagements from 1801 through 1815, cross-referencing locations marked by numbered flag symbols on the map face. Hand-colored outlines visually delineate the internal departments of France as well as neighboring regions including England, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the German Confederation, Switzerland, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and Spain. This map serves as an exceptional educational cartographic record of early 19th-century European diplomacy and military history.
France in Departments
Cartographer / Artist: Alexander Keith Johnston
Date: c. 1868
Medium: Engraving with original outline hand coloring
Dimensions: 24.5 × 17.5 inches
Location: France
This refined 19th-century double-page map illustrates France divided into its administrative departments, published for Keith Johnston's General Atlas by William Blackwood & Sons in Edinburgh and London. The cartography provides detailed coverage of rivers, mountain ranges, regional boundaries, rail lines, and major population centers across the nation. Subtle hand-colored outlines delineate each departmental boundary clearly against the engraved geography. The map features three distinct inset maps providing critical context: 'France in Provinces' in the lower left corner showing pre-revolutionary territorial divisions, an inset of the 'Environs of Paris' on the upper right margin, and a detailed map of the island of Corsica ('Corse') on the lower right.
Johnson's Spain and Portugal
Cartographer / Artist: Alvin Jewett Johnson and Benjamin P. Ward
Date: c. 1863
Medium: Hand-colored engraving
Dimensions: 15.9 × 13.4 inches
Location: Spain, Portugal, and the Balearic Islands
This mid-19th-century map depicts the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, alongside the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Published by Johnson and Ward during the American Civil War era, the map features detailed regional delineations, topographies, river systems, and major towns marked across both nations. Original hand coloring in pastel shades of pink, yellow, green, and olive distinguishes the historical provinces and administrative districts. In the lower right corner, a detailed inset map illustrates the strategic fortress and territory of Gibraltar, highlighting its naval importance during the period. The sheet is framed by Johnson's characteristic decorative fretwork border with corner rosettes, typical of his celebrated family atlases published in New York during the 1860s.
Spain and Portugal, from the Best Authorities
Cartographer / Artist: Mathew Carey
Date: c. 1795
Medium: Copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 15.0 × 14.2 inches
Location: Spain and Portugal
This late eighteenth-century copperplate engraved map depicts the Iberian Peninsula, comprising Spain and Portugal, as published for Mathew Carey's landmark American edition of William Guthrie's 'Geography Improved' (c. 1795). Printed in Philadelphia, Carey's publication represented a monumental achievement in early American map publishing, providing the new republic with detailed cartographic works of European regions compiled from leading contemporary sources. The map provides detailed geographic coverage of Spain, Portugal, the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza), and the northern coast of Africa including Tangier, Ceuta, and Melilla. The traditional provinces and kingdoms are clearly delineated, including Galicia, Asturias, Biscay, Navarre, Aragon, Catalonia, Old Castile, New Castile, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, Granada, and the historical regions of Portugal. Topographical hatching illustrates mountain chains like the Pyrenees, accompanied by extensive labelling of rivers, capes, bays, and prominent towns. An understated oval cartouche in the lower right corner encloses the title 'SPAIN and PORTUGAL, from the best AUTHORITIES.' Scales for British Statute Miles and Spanish Miles are positioned in the upper right corner, while the top margin retains the publication line indicating its origin in Carey's American geography atlas.
A New Map of the Kingdoms of Spain and Portugal with Their Principal Divisions
Cartographer / Artist: Robert Laurie & James Whittle
Date: c. 1794
Medium: Engraving with hand coloring
Dimensions: 23.5 × 20.0 inches
Location: Spain, Portugal, Iberian Peninsula
This late 18th-century copperplate engraved map offers a comprehensive view of the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal along with the Balearic Islands. Published by the prominent London firm Laurie & Whittle in 1794, the map meticulously delineates historical regions and provinces including Galicia, Asturias, Biscay, Navarre, Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Granada, Andalusia, Estremadura, and the Castiles, alongside the regional divisions of Portugal. The map features fine topographical details showing mountain chains, river systems, coastal harbors, and major urban centers. Beyond the Iberian mainland, the map extends to depict parts of southern France (Gascony, Languedoc, and Provence) across the Pyrenees, as well as the northern coast of Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar. An elegant decorative text cartouche in the lower right corner provides an explanatory key outlining the administrative breakdown of the Spanish provinces under the Crowns of Castile and Aragon. The lower left corner contains multiple scale bars accommodating various regional units of measurement, including Spanish Travelling Leagues, Legal Leagues of Gaul, Geographical Leagues, and British Miles.
Spain and Portugal
Cartographer / Artist: Aaron Arrowsmith
Date: 1807
Medium: Copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 17.0 × 10.2 inches
Location: Spain, Portugal, Iberian Peninsula
This detailed early nineteenth-century map depicts the Iberian Peninsula, comprising Spain and Portugal, along with portions of southern France and the northern coast of Africa. Published in London in 1807 under the direction of famed British cartographer Aaron Arrowsmith and engraved by J. Rye, the map highlights regional topography, major river systems, coastal anchorages, and extensive settlement networks across both countries. Mountainous regions are rendered using delicate hachuring to convey terrain relief throughout the Pyrenees, Cantabrian, and Sierra Nevada ranges. The surrounding maritime geography is extensively detailed, delineating the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza. To the south, the northern African coastline around Algiers is clearly labeled, placing the peninsula within its broader geopolitical context.
Spain and Portugal
Cartographer / Artist: John Pinkerton
Date: 1811
Medium: Copperplate engraving with original hand coloring
Dimensions: 28.0 × 22.0 inches
Location: Spain and Portugal
This magnificent large-format antique map depicting the Iberian Peninsula was published in London in 1811 for John Pinkerton's celebrated Modern Atlas. Produced during the height of the Peninsular War, the map provides an exceptionally detailed overview of Spain and Portugal, including the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza, as well as portions of North Africa and southern France. Regional provinces such as Galicia, Asturias, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, and Algarve are prominently delineated. The cartography is executed with precision, featuring fine copperplate engraving enhanced by subtle watercolor wash highlighting administrative boundaries. Extensive mountain relief is conveyed through dense hachuring, showing major ranges including the Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, and Sierra Nevada. Key hydrographic features, including the Tagus, Ebro, Douro, and Guadalquivir rivers, are mapped alongside major roadways, coastal ports, and historical settlements.
Geographical and Statistical Map of Spain and Portugal
Cartographer / Artist: M. Carey & Son (after C. Gros and C. V. Lavoisne)
Date: c. 1821
Medium: Hand-colored engraved map with surrounding letterpress text
Dimensions: 20.5 × 17.5 inches
Location: Spain and Portugal
This early nineteenth-century folio sheet, published in Philadelphia by M. Carey & Son for Lavoisne's Historical Atlas, features a central hand-colored map of the Iberian Peninsula surrounded by dense encyclopedic text panels. The map delineates the historic kingdoms and provinces of Spain and Portugal with delicate outline coloring, illustrating topographical features, principal rivers, major cities, and coastal geography across the peninsula and neighboring Balearic Islands. Flanking the central map are detailed statistical and geographic accounts covering the climate, natural history, government, religion, commerce, and colonial possessions of both Spain and Portugal. Beneath the cartographic view is an extensive chronological index titled 'Places Remarkable for Battles and Sieges in Spain', recording key military engagements from the early medieval conflicts against the Moors through the Peninsular War campaigns of the Napoleonic era.
Carte du Bearn de la Bigorre de l'Armagnac et des Pays Voisins
Cartographer / Artist: Guillaume Delisle
Date: 1712
Medium: Copperplate engraving with hand coloring
Dimensions: 24.8 × 19.5 inches
Location: Béarn, Bigorre, Armagnac, Southwestern France
This detailed early 18th-century map illustrates the historical provinces of Béarn, Bigorre, Armagnac, and neighboring territories in southwestern France, stretching to the Pyrenean border with Spain. Published in Paris in August 1712 by Guillaume Delisle, Premier Géographe du Roi and member of the Académie Royale des Sciences, the work exemplifies Delisle's pioneering scientific methodology, which eliminated traditional cartographic errors through rigorous astronomical calculations and reliable geographical surveys. The map provides a rich visual record of regional topography, including mountain passes, river systems, and alpine valleys such as the Vallée d'Aspe and Vallée d'Ossau. Outline hand coloring distinguishes various regional jurisdictions, including Bas-Armagnac, Haut-Armagnac, Chalosse, and Lower Navarre, while an extensive key in the upper left corner defines ecclesiastical boundaries, fortified towns, abbeys, and road networks.
Les Isfes de Canarie. Insulae Canariae ol. Fortunatae
Cartographer / Artist: Petrus Bertius / Jodocus Hondius
Date: c. 1600
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Dimensions: 6.3 × 4.5 inches
Location: Canary Islands, Madeira, Atlantic Ocean
This finely detailed miniature map depicts the Canary Islands and Madeira archipelago, featuring the Latin name 'Insulae Canariae ol: Fortunatae' across the ocean basin, referencing the classical designation of the 'Fortunate Isles.' Engraved for early seventeenth-century pocket atlases published by Petrus Bertius and featuring geography by Jodocus Hondius, the sheet is crowned with a French typographic header reading 'Les Isfes de Canarie.' The layout illustrates Madeira, Porto Santo, Salvages, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and Ferro (El Hierro). Visually, the map features an ornate inset box in the upper left displaying 'Portus Canaria' complete with a local fortress ('Castellum') and a radiating compass rose. Decorative strapwork frames, a sailing vessel, a sea monster, and a German miles scale bar ('Milliaria Germanica') complete this classic example of Dutch Golden Age miniature cartography.