Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps

Starting today, we are going to feature three evolutions of the same map. Being able to trace changes throughout a map's life is one of our favorite things. This is a pretty famous one, the first printed map of Hawai'i. It is based on initial surveys and work by James Cook, William Bligh, and Henry Roberts (but who did what is still a matter of hot debate). For today's version, here is the first French edition from the official account (in translation) of Cook's third voyage, published in 1785. Check it out here: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/71853

This is just a gorgeous map, right? It is Murer's Eigentliche Verzeichnuss der Statten..., originally published in 1566. This is a 1670 reissue, known in only four institutional examples. https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/59976

Did you know the Russians had a colony in California? That's where the Russian in the Russian River Valley comes from! Learn all about Fort Ross, their main settlement, with this chart by a French spy to whom the colony was offered for purchase. Intriguing, right? https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/71741

We have quite enjoyed flipping through this 1818 ed. of the Portulano de los Estados Unidos. It features some of the earliest Spanish charts of US ports. See all the charts here: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/70483

It's George Washington's birthday! Here is a mezzotint portrait of the first POTUS, by S. Arlent Edwards (ca. 1900). Not a map, you say! We sometimes have other rare prints and ephemera too (we have layers). See Washington here: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/70180mp2

This world map by Zatta (1774) is interesting for several reasons, but we are struck by how Zatta tried to integrate the recent first expedition of James Cook. Specifically, check out that New Zealand approximation! https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/60768