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The Journal

Stories from inside the maps — phantom islands, invented rivers, propaganda borders, and the small engraving mistakes that can date a plate to the decade. Every claim here is checked against the cartographic literature and the holding institutions; each piece links to the map it came from.

For a century, mapmakers were sure California was an island
Phantom geography

For a century, mapmakers were sure California was an island

How a confident error spread across Europe's finest maps — and why our 1691 Sanson–Jaillot world map shows the sea that never existed.

The 'Long River' a French baron simply made up
Phantom geography

The 'Long River' a French baron simply made up

A 1710 map of North America, advertised as 'corrected by the Royal Society', maps a major river that was pure invention.

You can date this Ortelius map by a mistake
How to read a map

You can date this Ortelius map by a mistake

A bulge in the coast of South America pins this plate of the Americas to the 1570s.

The map that claimed a Roman coin proved Rome reached America
Cartographic curiosities

The map that claimed a Roman coin proved Rome reached America

Herman Moll's 1709 map of the Roman Empire carries an extraordinary marginal note.

‘Stampolda’: a 1635 panorama catches a city changing its name
Place-names

‘Stampolda’: a 1635 panorama catches a city changing its name

Matthäus Merian's sweeping view of Constantinople records the name on its way to Istanbul.

A map coloured for empire: the Company against Tipu Sultan
Cartographic curiosities

A map coloured for empire: the Company against Tipu Sultan

Faden's 1793 map of the Indian peninsula shades political control — and marks Britain's fiercest opponent.

Why this Holy Land map puts east at the top
How to read a map

Why this Holy Land map puts east at the top

A monumental six-sheet wall map of 1652 is oriented for a traveller arriving by ship.

Where the map stops: Delisle leaves Africa blank
How to read a map

Where the map stops: Delisle leaves Africa blank

Our 1730 map of Egypt and Arabia descends from the plate that erased the mythical source of the Nile.

A wall map built to cross the Pyrenees
Cartographic curiosities

A wall map built to cross the Pyrenees

The Abbé Clouet's 1776 Europe is framed by vignettes captioned in two languages — for two markets.