An "Antique" City Map Using Modern Cartographic Tools

Between 1830 and 1842 England's Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge published a series of dozens of city maps "founded on the best and most recent authorities [and] finished in the best manner." These maps were hand-lettered, hand-colored steel engravings of many of the world's most important cities. Given the short period in which the maps were produced (12 years) they provide scholars with an invaluable resource for comparisons of urban areas in different countries and continents. A selection of these maps is included in Melville C. Branch's collection, An Atlas of Rare City Maps: Comparative Urban Design, 1830-1842.

While the skills and techniques used to make these maps have largely disappeared, modern cartographic and illustrating tools can be used to create elegant (and very accurate) city plans. Below, we have reproduced (with permission) one map from Dr. Branch's book as well as a map created by ZevRoss Spatial Analysis patterned after these 19th century map-plans.

Of course, both maps have been reduced in size to fit this page. In particular, the original printed map of Ithaca, NY is 21 x 16 inches and includes, for example, detailed outlines of all buildings in the City which are only visible in generalized detail here.

© 2008 ZevRoss Spatial Analysis