Pre-1824 Maps

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  1581 - La herdike enterprinse faict par le Signeur Draeck D'Avoir cirquit toute la Terre

  A map published in 1581 depicting his voyages from December 13, 1577 to September 9, 1580. It includes two inset images and a portrait of Francis Drake.

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  1588 - Americae sive Novi Orbis nova descriptio - Cum privilegio decennali Ab. Ortelius delineab. et excudeb. 1587

  Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius’ 1588 map showing the American continents, Solomon Islands, New Guinea and a portion of Australia was the third plate used for his maps of the American continent. This is the first map to use the name of California for the region known now as Baja California (depicted as a peninsula), as well as noting C. Mendocino further north. Map also reflects rivers, mountains and population centers.

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  1588 - Culiacanae, Americae Regionis descriptio - Hispaniolae Cubae aliarumque insularum circumiacentium delineatio

  Divided into two sections, the map was published in the 1588 edition of Abraham Ortelius’ atlas entitled, “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.” The top half of the map depicts the western Culicanae region of Mexico. The lower portion of the map shows Florida and the Caribbean region and includes the tip of the Yucatan. It names and shows in detail many of the Caribbean islands, including Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, St. Jois Insula (St. Johns), Bahamas and Virgin Islands as well as the Windward Islands.

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  1592 - Maris Pacifici, quod vulgo Mar del Zur

  This 1589 map was published in the 1592 edition of Abraham Ortelius’ atlas entitled, “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.” One of the first printed maps to be devoted to the Pacific Ocean, it was based largely upon Gerardus Mercator’s world map of 1569. Mercator’s map contained details from Portuguese manuscript maps, as well as information obtained from the travel accounts of explorers such as Magellan, Pigafetta and Haklluyt. The map reflects the first 75 years of European exploration within the world’s largest body of water albeit shown to be much smaller than the true size of the Pacific Ocean. The map shows the spice-rich islands known as the Moluccas and the Philippines, a region contested at the time by the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese. The map also depicted islands known today as Japan and Guam (Restiga de Ladrones), Solomons, and New Guinea. Unlike the 1588 Ortelius’ world map that showed New Guinea attached to yet to be explored southern continent Terra Australis, this 1592 map depicts it as detached.

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  1595 - Vera totius expeditionis nauticæ _ descriptio D. Franc. Draci ..

  This 1595 map depicts the routes taken around the world by Sir Francis Drake between 1577 and 1580 and by Thomas Cavendish between 1586 and 1588. The two-hemisphere old world map is surrounded by ornate artwork and text. It includes two ancillary maps showing landing at California and Java, two ancillary views showing Drake's welcome at Moluccas and Drake's ship cast up on the rocks near the Celebes.

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  1602 - Carta de los reconocimientos hechos en 1602 por el Capitan Sebastian Vizcayno -formada por los Planos que hizo el mismo durante su comisión - Cardano lo grabó

  The first comprehensive depiction of the coastline of California, this map was published 1802 in Juan Espinosa y Tello’s atlas entitled, “Atlas para el viage de las goletas Sutil y Mexicana al reconocimiento del estrecho de Juan de Fuca in 1792, publicad en 1802.” In his 1602-1603 expedition along the California coast, Vizcayno made thirty-two plans of harbors and portions of the coast. His plans subsequently were placed in the Madrid archives. Some 200 years later, the officers of the ships, Sutil and Mexicana, discovered the old charts and compiled them into a single map. Vizcayno assigned names to many of the well-known features along the California coastline including San Diego Bay, Santa Barbara Channel Islands, Point Conception, Santa Lucia Mountains, Point Lobos, Carmel River and Monterey Bay. For further information regarding the 1602-1603 voyage of Sebastián Vizcaíno, see also: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/38295559.

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  1647 - Nova Belgica et Anglia Nova

  This second edition map of Johannes Janssonius, Dutch cartographer, is believed to have been derived from the less well circulated map of Johannes de Laet of 1630. The map depicts the East Coast of North America showing New England, New Amsterdam and Virginia extending from Nova Scotia south to Cape Lookout (erroneously identified as C. of Feare) at the south end of the outer banks of what would later be known as North Carolina. It was the second printed map to name Manhattan (Manhattes), New Amesterdam, the North River (Hudson) and South River (Delaware). Emphasis is on the Dutch colonies. Drawing on the cartouche of Johannes Blaeu, another Dutch cartographer, Janssonius added to the second edition engravings of wildlife, along with an Indian village scene.

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  1650 - Amérique septentrional

  This 1650 map of North America depicts the Great Lakes in a recognizable form naming both Lake Ontario and Lake Superior. The East Coast designation “N[ouvelle] Amsterdam is present day New York and “N[ovelle] Suede” is the Swedish colony, present day Delaware. The area delineated as “Mer Glaciale” refers to the Northwest Passage. The source for the Southwest area are the 1630 reports of Father Alonso Benavides on his travels in New Mexico with many Native tribes describe. The R. del Norte (Rio Grande) is shown mistakenly as flowing from an interior lake and emptying into the Mar Vermeio (Gulf of California). California is shown as a large island.

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  1650 c. – Untitled Dutch map depicting California as an island.

  This 17^th century Dutch map depicts western Mexico from Puerto Vallarta to Cape Blanco, mistakenly depicts California as an island. The map includes coastline, coastal features, streams and other bodies of water, missions and settlements, and pictorial representation of relief. The map also includes references to coastal features in California such a “P[uert]o S{an] digio,” P[uert]o Montiroy,” P[uert]o Francisco Draco,” and C[abo] Blanco.”

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  1670 c. - Novissima et Accuratissima Totius Americae Descriptio

  A 1670 era map by Dutch cartographer, Frederik de Wit, depicting North and South America with the “California as an island” myth being perpetuated. It shows a non-existent coastline north of California and a misshaped South America. While providing substantial detail of the Eastern regions of Canada and North America, there is little information on the interior of North America. It depicts Dutch possessions, the Iroquois, New Amsterdam, Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Plymouth, as well as vignettes of Indians and Indian villages in South America and animals in North America. Regions for Florida, Canada, Mexico, West Indies and South America are depicted as separate geographic regions. The upper left plaque shows an angel and a female figure bearing a cross. The lower left cartouche depicts natives bringing gold bars and baskets of grain to an Indian chieftain. The map, unlike many similar maps published in the 17^th century, shows ships throughout the oceans flanking North and South America. De Wit who was active in the second half of the 17^th century published world atlases containing anywhere from 15 to 150 maps – none of which were dated.

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  1677 - L’America settentrionale nuovamente corretta, et accresciuta secondo le relationi più moderne da Guglielmo Sansone

  An early map by Giovanni G. de Rossi is thought to have been taken largely from Guglielmo Sansone’s 1669 map with some additions such as Iceland and the British Islands. The map was a part of de Rossi’s atlas of maps entitled Mercurio Geografico. The actual shape that is depicted of Isola di California is believed to have been derived from a 1635 map made by English explorer, Luke Foxe. San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Point Reyes, Mendocino and other recognizable landmarks are noted on the western portion of the California island. Canada is named in the east. New France is shown as most of the northeast portion of the continent. Also depicted is New England and the Low Countries (the Netherlands) with New Amsterdam (New York City). Significant attention is paid to the West Indies and islands throughout the Gulf of Mexico, as well as to Mexico and other regions throughout Central America.

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  1680 - North America divided into its principall parts where are distinguished the several states which belong to the English, Spanish, and French

  1680 map depicting North America divided into its principal parts, viz. Arctick lands, New North Wales, N. South Wales, N. Britain, Canada, N. France, N. Scotland, N. England, N. York, N. Jersey, Mary-Land, Virginia, Carolina, Florida, Mexico, the islands of New Found Land, California, the Antilles, in which are distinguished the several countries as they are possessed by the English, Spanish and French.

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  1688 America Settentrionale colle nuove scoperte n al'anno 1688, divisa nelle sue parti secundo lo stato

  1688 Vincenzo Coronelli map has large scene of gods and goddesses of navigation (map, sundial, sun, etc.) at left and large maroon drape above. Great Lakes region is most accurate. California is shown as a massive island with a large mountain ridge down its east side. Longitude 0⁰ goes through Iceland. Mississippi River exits in the Gulf of Mexico some 600 miles to the west of its true location. The Ohio River has been pushed south. In the West, previously unrecorded place names are noted. The Rio Grande is divided into the Rio Norte and the Rio Bravo in the south.

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  1705 French map depicting North America and polar lands.

  A 1705 map by Nicholas de Fer of North America and the polar regions showing Greenland, Iceland. The map also depicts the Hudson Bay, Great Lakes, New England, New Holland, Pennsylvania, New York, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, Carolinas and Florida. The map shows the Canadian French lands bordering on a westerly extended Florida and abutting New Mexico. The West Indies are depicted as is Mexico with only a small number of communities identified. California is depicted as an island with an indented northern coast and no place names. In the portion of the map that would correspond to the present-day West Coast north of California, there is a note indicating this region as unknown.

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  1720 - La Californie ou Nouvelle Caroline : teatro de los trabajos, Apostolicos de la Compa. e Jesus en la America Septe.

  The 1720 map by Nicolas de Fer contains important information about Spanish missions in Mexico, Native American villages and western river systems. It shows the West Coast of Mexico, interior of the Southwest, Baja California and the island of California. The map was copied from the manuscript 1696 map by Father Eusebio Kino, who traveled throughout the Southwest for over a decade. Although Father Kino concluded by 1701 that California was connected to the mainland, the myth was perpetuated in the present map and was essentially an enlarged edition of De Fer's smaller 1700 map. It is decorated with indigenous people and native wildlife. Contained then new information about missions, Native American Villages, river systems, recording over 350 towns, villages, regions and rivers in California and northern Mexico.

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  1750 c. - Mapa y tabla geografica de leguas comunes que hay de unos á otros lugares y ciudades principales de la America

  Dedicated to the Honorable D. Agustín de Ahumada y Villalón, Marquis de las Amarillas, governor viceroy and Captain general of New Spain (1755-58), this presentation piece consists of a map of New Spain and North America, a distance chart between principal cities of New Spain, and an idealized view of the area between Mexico City and Veracruz with the historical symbol of Mexico (eagle and serpent in a cactus) firmly centered in its midst. Main purpose of this piece was to acquaint the new Viceroy with the extent of his empire and its relationship with the rest of North America. In addition to providing distances between key cities in New Spain, the distance chart also gives latitude, longitude, and zodiac sign for each site. Map is a symbolic statement rather than a factual presentation of the geography of North America

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  1768 c. - Puerto de La Paz - sobre la Costa Oriental de California debaro de la Latitud de 24 grs 20 ms

  In 1768 under the order of José de Gálvez, the Inspector General who had been sent to New Spain by King Carlos III, Miguel Constanzó and Joseph de Urrutia mapped the Bay of La Paz and Port of Cortes. Although the La Paz mission was closed in 1748, the port continued to be used on as an anchorage by local miners and salt merchants to load and unload goods. It was also a region abundant with pearls. The chart provides an alphabetical “Explanacion” of the landmarks in this region. The chart also reflects measurements in terms of depth, as well as latitude and longitude.

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  1769 – Mapa, que comprende la Frontera, de los Dominios del Rey, en la America Septentrional. José Urrutia and Nicolas de la Fora.

  A detailed 1769 map of the internal provinces of New Spain (Northern Mexico and Southwest United States) prepared as a result of the 1766-1768 expedition to survey presidios and defenses of northern New Spain. It includes administrative boundaries, pictorial representation of relief and selected European and Native American towns, as well as settlements, fortifications (presidios), mines, missions, haciendas, Native American nations, rivers, streams, lakes, coastlines and coastal features. The four sheets are numbered separately: "Primera Parte" extends from the Gulf of California to Texas, "Segunda Parte" extends from West Texas to the Louisiana border, "Tercera Parte" extends from the Gulf of California to Nueva Galicia, and "Quarta Parte" extends from Nueva Galicia to the Gulf of Mexico. All sheets fit together to form the comprehensive map. Except for "Tercera Parte" which indicates that it was copied by Don Luis de Serville, all of the sheets were the work of Urrutia and Lafora alone. The map extends from 248 to 286 longitude and from 22 to 37 North latitude.

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  1769 - Plano de la Costa del Sur corregido hasta la Canal de Santa Barbara

  Under orders from Don Jose de Gálvez, between 1768 and 1770, Miguel Constanzó explored the coastline of the California (Baja) Peninsula and Alta California with a two-fold purpose: 1) to correct existing navigational charts, and 2) to investigate and develop plans for the ports of San Diego and Monterey. He was also directed, if possible, to investigate the San Francisco Bay region and develop plans for that area too. His explorations resulted in four maps that included a plan focused on the coastal region around the Channel of Santa Bárbara. The map roughly depicts the coastline from San Blas, New Spain, north to Cabo Mendocíno, Alta California as reflected by the lack of detail surrounding either the Monterey Bay or San Francisco Bay.

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  1770 - Carta reducida del Occeano Asiático nombrado por los Navegantes Mar del Sur - que comprehende la Costa Oriental y Occidental de la Peninsula de la California con el Golfo de su denominación

  This map by Miguel Costanzó depicts a West Coast region of New Spain (Nueva Españal) and the American frontier that extended from Cabo de Corrientes in New Spain to Cabo Blanco (the westernmost point in modern-day Oregon) and the Rio de los Reyes (River of the Kings) immediately to the north of Cabo Blanco. Motivated by news from Europe that the Russians and English were establishing themselves on the coasts of the North Pacific, Following January 1768 issuance of an order by the Viceroy Governor of New Spain, navigators who had previously explored the Sea of the South proceeded to explore the coastal regions of Western New Spain and the American frontier along the Pacific Ocean. The map was compiled from the diaries of the pilot of the packet boats, SM Santa Maria and San Antonio. Additional information was obtained from manuscripts of former missionaries describing the interior and coastal regions of California. Longitude on this map is Tenerise, the meridian used by the Spanish in the 1700s. Appears to be an earlier version of a more refined map published in 1771.

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  1770 - Carta Reducida del Oceano Asiatico, Ó Mar Del Súr, Que Comprehende La Costa Oriental Y Occidental De La Península De La California, Con El Golfo De Su Denominacion Antiguamente Conocido Por La De Mar De Cortés

  The chart was drawn by Miguel Constanzó, royal engineer for the Kingdom of New Spain, who accompanied the 1769 expedition led by Captain Gaspar de Portola to establish a settlement at Monterey Bay previously discovered by Sebastián Vizcaino in 1603. The chart depicts the Pacific Ocean, the entire eastern and western coast of the California peninsula, the Sea of Cortez, and the coasts of North America, from the isthmus that connects this peninsula with the mainland to the River of the Kings (R de los Reyes), and from the Colorado River to the Cape of Corrientes.

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  1770 - Plano del Tondeadero o Surgidero de la Bahia y Puerto de Monterrey - situado por 36 grados y 40 minutos de latitud Norte

  A detailed plan by Miguel Constanzó of the Port of Monterrey in which he identifies landmarks and potential locations for anchoring ships, including: Point Pinos, sheltered anchorage (except from the north-northwest winds), the site for the Mission and Presidio de San Carlos, several lagoons and an estuary that was filled by the tide. This is one of at least four Constanzó maps or plans resulting from the Spanish exploration of the coastline of Alta California between 1769 and 1770.

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  1772 - Carta del Puerto y Rio de Sn Francisco explorado por tierra en el Mes de Marzo del presente año 1772, formada por el Diario del R.P.Fr. Juan Crespí

  Early San Francisco Bay, California, map based on the diary and observations of Franciscan missionary and explorer, Juan Crespí. He made two overland explorations. The first journey was in 1769 with Gaspar de Portolá and Junipero Serra. Crespi accompanied Captain Pedro Fages in 1772 on an exploration of the region to the east of San Francisco Bay. His diaries were first published in English in 1927 (Fray Juan Crespi, Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast 1769-1774) and subsequently in 2001 (A Description of Distant Roads: Original Journals of the First Expedition into California, 1769–1770). The 2001 publication contained both the original Spanish and English translation on facing pages. A slightly more detailed version of this map appears in the 1927 publication.

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  1772 - Plano Geográfico de la mayor parte de la America Septentrional Española

  The map made principally in 1767 depicts the state of knowledge at that the time that the Spaniards had acquired of Upper-California and the Colorado River, immediately before the commencement of the explorations of the regions by the Franciscan missionaries in 1769 and the Spanish Northwest navigations after 1774. Father José de Alzate y Ramírez drew the original map entitled, Nuevo mapa geográfico de la América septentrional Española, dividida en obispados y provincias, in 1767 (New Geographical Map of Northern Spanish America, divided into Bishoprics and Provinces). This 1772 map was a correction of the previous map made to “bring it into line with new astronomical observations.” Thought to be one of the first maps to show Texas as a geographic region (Provincia de los Texas). The map was drawn from official reports of several Spanish political and military explorers who had inspected the regions.

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  1775 - Chart, containing the coasts of California, New Albion, and Russian discoveries to the north; with the peninsula of Kamtschatka, in Asia, opposite thereto; and islands, dispersed over the Paci c Ocean, to the north of the line. North America and the West Indies, with the opposite coasts of Europe and Africa.

  The 1775 map shows the northeast Pacific Ocean coasts of North America (California and New Albion) and the Aleutian Islands and routes of major exploration between 1542 and 1765. Also shows the north east coasts of North America, West Indies and coasts of Europe and Africa. Relief shown pictorially.