Sea Monsters

From the Middle Ages until the 17th century, sea monsters, marine beasts, dragons and strange creatures appeared on maps and charts. They indicate unexplored areas and made unknown oceans seem strange and threatening. These monsters served as decoration or referred to famous myths. Here you will find original antique and old maps decorated with these fascinating and visually engaging sea monsters and unnatural creatures.

Johannes Janssonius: Valentia Regnum
Amsterdam, circa 1640
Antique map of Valencia by Janssonius. Shows the Spanish Mediterranean coast from Torrevieja to Tarragona. With Alicante, Xàbia, Dénia, Gandia, Castellón de la Plana and L'Ampolla. In the centre...
Valentia Regnum
1640 - Johannes Janssonius
12414
Coloured map of Valencia. Printed in Amsterdam circa 1640.

360,00 €
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Nicolas Visscher: De Gelegenheyt van't Paradys ende't Landt Canaan...
Paulus Aertsz van Ravesteyn, Amsterdam, 1654
Decorative map of the location of Paradise by Nicolas Visscher. Above biblical scenes with Adam and Eve, in between the title cartouche. In the Mediterranean Sea with Cyprus, a sailing ship and a...
De Gelegenheyt van't Paradys ende't Landt Canaan...
1654 - Nicolas Visscher
12747
Antique map of the Middle East. Printed in Amsterdam by Paulus Aertsz van Ravesteyn in 1654.

390,00 €
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Nicolas Visscher: Perigrinatie ofte Veertich-Iarige Reyse der Kinderen Israels.
Paulus Aertsz van Ravesteyn, Amsterdam, 1654
Decorative map of the Holy Land by Nicolas Visscher. Showing the exodus of the tribes of Israel from Egypt. Below the camp of the tribes, the tabernacle, ark of the covenant and menorah. From the...
Perigrinatie ofte Veertich-Iarige Reyse der Kinderen Israels.
1654 - Nicolas Visscher
12748
Antique map of the Holy Land. Printed in Amsterdam by Paulus Aertsz van Ravesteyn in 1654.

290,00 €
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Anonymous: Erschrecklicher und Erbärmlicher Schaw Platz Verüblter Frantzösischer Schandt Brandt und...
circa 1675
Extremely rare, large engraved pamphlet on 4 sheets joined. Shows dramatic scenes during the French-Dutch War (1672-1679). The unusual dramatic scenes of violence for this time of printmaking are...
Erschrecklicher und Erbärmlicher Schaw Platz Verüblter Frantzösischer...
1675 - Anonymous
11205
Extremely rare, large pamphlet of the French-Dutch War. Printed on 4 sheets in the year 1675.

2 800,00 €
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Nicolas Visscher: Comitatus Hollandiae Tabula Pluribus Locis Recens Emendata a Nicolao Visscher
N. Visscher, Amsterdam, 1677
Antique map of Holland in the west of the Netherlands by N. Visscher. In the center Amsterdam, at the bottom left an inset map of the West Frisian islands Texel, Vlieland and Terschelling. In the...
Comitatus Hollandiae Tabula Pluribus Locis Recens Emendata a Nicolao...
1677 - Nicolas Visscher
11829
Old coloured map of Holland. Printed in Amsterdam by N. Visscher in 1677.

790,00 €
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Carel Allard: Hyberniae Regni in Provincias Ultoniam, Connachian, Lageniam, Momoniamq Divisi Tabula...
Covens & Mortier, Amsterdam, circa 1730
Rare old coloured antique map of Ireland by Carel Allard. This is the edition by Covens and Mortier. Two impressive cartouches, numerous sailing ships in the Atlantic and Irish Seas. Very nice...
Hyberniae Regni in Provincias Ultoniam, Connachian, Lageniam, Momoniamq...
1730 - Carel Allard
12541
Old coloured map of Ireland. Printed in Amsterdam by Covens & Mortier circa 1730.

1 300,00 €
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Guillaume de l'Isle: Les Isles Britanniques ou sont le Royaumes d'Angleterre
Covens & Mortier, Amsterdam, circa 1730
Antique map of Great Britain and Ireland by Guillaume de l'Isle. This is the Covens & Mortier edition of the detailed map by G. de l'Isle. With England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, parts of the...
Les Isles Britanniques ou sont le Royaumes d'Angleterre
1730 - Guillaume de l'Isle
12546
Old coloured map of the British Isles. Printed in Amsterdam by Covens & Mortier circa 1730.

350,00 €
Details
Laurent Fries: Tabu. Nova Orbis / Diefert Situs Orbis Hydrographorum Ab Eo Quem Ptolomeus Posuit
M. & G. Trechsel, Lyon, 1535
The second 'modern' world map of L. Fries. 'This map is one of the earliest world maps available to a collector, and is an unsophisticated but attractive rendering of what was generally known of...
Tabu. Nova Orbis / Diefert Situs Orbis Hydrographorum Ab Eo Quem...
1535 - Laurent Fries
10865
Antique woodcut map of the world. Printed in Lyon by M. & G. Trechsel in 1535.
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Sebastian Münster: Die Länder Asie nach ihrer gelegenheit bisz in India, werden in diser Tafel verzeichnet
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1540 (1574)
The earliest printed map of the Asian Continent. Asia is shown from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. In South East Asia the islands Java Major and Minor are named, also Borneo and the Moluccas...
Die Länder Asie nach ihrer gelegenheit bisz in India, werden in diser...
1540 - Sebastian Münster
11323
Coloured woodcut map of the Asian continent. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1574.
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Sebastian Münster: Africa Lybia Morenlandt mit Allen Künigreichen so zu unsern zeiten darin gefunden werden.
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1540 (1574)
The earliest obtainable printed map to show all of Africa. First published in 1540 by Sebastian Munster, this map is also famous because of its rich mythical content. The Monoculi or cyclops...
Africa Lybia Morenlandt mit Allen Künigreichen so zu unsern zeiten darin...
1540 - Sebastian Münster
11325
Coloured woodcut map of Africa. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1574.
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Sebastian Münster: Die Länger Asie nach irer gelegenheit bisz in Indiam werden in disser tafel verzeichnet
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1540 (1550)
The earliest printed map of the Asian Continent. Asia is shown from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. In Southeast Asia the islands Java Major and Minor are named, also Borneo and the Moluccas...
Die Länger Asie nach irer gelegenheit bisz in Indiam werden in disser...
1540 - Sebastian Münster
12469
Coloured woodcut map of the Asian continent. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1550.
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Sebastian Münster: Italia mit dreyen furnemesten Inseln, Corsica, Sardinia, und Sicilia
Basle, circa 1550
Attractive woodcut map showing Italy with Corsica, Sardinia and Sicilia. From a German edition of Cosmographia from Sebastian Munster.
Italia mit dreyen furnemesten Inseln, Corsica, Sardinia, und Sicilia
1550 - Sebastian Münster
10033
Coloured woodcut map of Italy. Printed in Basle circa 1550.
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Sebastian Münster: [Holy Land, Cyprus]
Petri, Basle, circa 1550
Attractive coloured woodcut map showing the Holy Land with Cyprus. With a ship and a sea monster. From a Latin edition of Cosmographia by Sebastian Munster.
[Holy Land, Cyprus]
1550 - Sebastian Münster
10539
Coloured woodcut map of Cyprus, Israel, Palestine. Printed in Basle by Petri circa 1550.
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Sebastian Münster: Hispanien nach aller seiner Gelegenheit, in Bergen, Stetten, Völckern, Königreichen, Wässern und...
Basle, circa 1550
Early, attractive woodcut map of Spain and Portugal in beautiful handcolour. From a German edition of Cosmographia from Sebastian Munster.
Hispanien nach aller seiner Gelegenheit, in Bergen, Stetten, Völckern,...
1550 - Sebastian Münster
10683
Coloured woodcut map of Spain - Portugal. Printed in Basle circa 1550.
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Sebastian Münster: Mostri marini & terrestri, che si trouano in ogni luogo nelle parti d' aquilone
Basle, circa 1550
One of the most famous charts of mythical sea monsters by Sebastian Munster. The monsters are derivative from the 'Carta Marina' of 1539 by Olaus Magnus and have been used by many 16th and 17th...
Mostri marini & terrestri, che si trouano in ogni luogo nelle parti d'...
1550 - Sebastian Münster
10944
Coloured woodcut of seamonsters of the 16th century. Published by Seb. Munster in Basel during the year 1550.
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Sebastian Münster: Geographiae Claudii Ptolemaei Alexandrini, Philosophi ac Mathematici praestantissimi, Libri...
Henricus Petri, Basle, 1552
The Geographia of Ptolemaeus with the magnificent woodcut maps of Sebastian Münster. With 27 Ptolemaic maps (World, 10 Europe, 4 Africa, 12 Asia) and 27 new maps drawn by Sebastian Münster and...
Geographiae Claudii Ptolemaei Alexandrini, Philosophi ac Mathematici...
1552 - Sebastian Münster
12144
Sebastian Münster's edition of Ptolemy's Geographia with 54 woodcut maps, published by H. Petri 1552 in Basel.
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Abraham Ortelius: Germania.
A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1570
Old coloured map of Germany by A. Ortelius. Decorated with three cartouches and a galleon. First state from the 1570 Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum .
Germania.
1570 - Abraham Ortelius
11526
Old coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1570.
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Abraham Ortelius: Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus
Antwerp, 1570
First state of the Tartary map by A. Ortelius. Showing large part of Asia from Black Sea with Russia, parts of China, a curious early treatment of Japan and an early treatment of the West Coast of...
Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus
1570 - Abraham Ortelius
11686
Coloured map of the Tartary. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1570.
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Abraham Ortelius: Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus
Gielis van Diest, Antwerp, 1570
Rare first edition, first state of Ortelius' striking map of Southeast Asia.Rare and important first edition of the beautiful Southeast Asia map of Abraham Ortelius. From the first 'modern'...
Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus
1570 - Abraham Ortelius
11762
Antique map of Southeast Asia. Printed in Antwerp by Gielis van Diest in 1570.
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Abraham Ortelius: Typus Orbis Terrarum
Gielis Coppens van Diest, Antwerp, 1570 [1572]
The first World Map in the First Regular Atlas - with Old Colours.A fine old coloured and early example of one of the most famous world maps ever published. From the first modern atlas...
Typus Orbis Terrarum
1570 - Abraham Ortelius
12681
Antique map of the world by Abraham Ortelius. Published in 1572 in Antwerp.
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Abraham Ortelius: Germania
Gielis Coppens van Diest, Antwerp, 1571
Antique map of the central part of Europe by Abraham Ortelius. With the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, in the east parts of Poland and Hungary in the south to Venice. Below the...
Germania
1571 - Abraham Ortelius
12091
Coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by Gielis Coppens van Diest in 1571.
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Abraham Ortelius: Germania
A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1572-73
Antique map of the central part of Europe by Abraham Ortelius. With the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, in the east parts of Poland and Hungary in the south to Venice. Below the...
Germania
1572 - Abraham Ortelius
11853
Coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1572.
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Tomaso Porcacchi: Irlanda - Descrittione dell'Isola d'Irlanda.
Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572
First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Ireland. This finely-executed map shows Ireland with north to the right. With a compass rose, title cartouche and several sea monsters....
Irlanda - Descrittione dell'Isola d'Irlanda.
1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
12364
Antique map of Ireland. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.
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Tomaso Porcacchi: Cuba - Cvba - Descrittione dell' Isola Cuba, che dal Colombo
Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572
First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Cuba. This finely-executed map shows the Caribbean island of Cuba with Jamaica and parts of Hispaniola. The Y de Lagartos shown north...
Cuba - Cvba - Descrittione dell' Isola Cuba, che dal Colombo
1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
12366
Antique map of Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.
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