Comments on: Map collection of the Boston Public Library

Map collection of the Boston Public Library

Kattullus — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:50:45 -0800

The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library has 200,000 historic maps and 5,000 atlases. A whole heap of them is online in very high resolution and you can explore the collection by location, subject, date, publisher, author and projection. They give virtual tours, select a map of the month and have a section called Maps in the News, where they profile Darfur and Iraq.

By: Football Bat

Football Bat — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:15:09 -0800

Thanks. I was looking for a 17th Century map of Ireland earlier today...

By: Rhomboid

Rhomboid — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:08:43 -0800

This is really great. I always love looking at polar maps because they give you a really uncommon view of familar land bodies, but with radically different shapes and relationships. In particular the great circle airline routes shown on that one really illustrate the point.

By: pwedza

pwedza — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:10:59 -0800

Really, really excellent. Thanks.

By: ericb

ericb — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:57:28 -0800

Off-topic, but related: The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, New York Public Library. Must not forget The Harvard Map Collection - "America's oldest map collection with over half a million maps, atlases from the 15th century to the present, gazetteers, and reference books on the history and science of cartography."

By: languagehat

languagehat — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:29:26 -0800

And while we're on the subject, let's not forget The Map Room, the superb map blog of our own mcwetboy.

By: Gungho

Gungho — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:30:41 -0800

Thanks, I never knew of this even though I have one of the books they have published.

By: cashman

cashman — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:53:10 -0800

This is wonderful.

By: ericb

ericb — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 10:55:45 -0800

The Boston Globe has an article on The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center in today's edition: By Web, a Detailed Look at Our Past.