2. Antique Maps
  3. Sea Monsters

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.
  • Münster, Italy, 1550: Italia mit dreyen furnemesten Inseln, Corsica, Sardinia, und Sicilia

    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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  • Münster, Holy Land, Palestine, Israel, Cyprus, 1550: [Holy Land, Cyprus]

    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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  • Münster, Spain - Portugal, 1550: Hispanien nach aller seiner Gelegenheit, in Bergen, Stetten, Völckern, Königreichen, Wässern und Inseln

    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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  • Münster, 16th century Monsters, 1550: Mostri marini & terrestri, che si trouano in ogni luogo nelle parti d' aquilone

    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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  • Münster, Greece, 1550: Von den Inseln

    Sebastian Münster:  Von den Inseln

    Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1550

    Early woodcut map of the Greek islands of Delos, Rhodes, Alone, Thera, Sicilia and Therasia. With two sailing ships and several sea monsters. From the German edition of Sebastian Münster's...

    Von den Inseln
    1550 - Sebastian Münster
    12588

    Antique woodcut map of Greece. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1550.

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  • Münster, Turkey, Asia Minor, 1550: [Asia Minor]

    Sebastian Münster:  [Asia Minor]

    Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1550

    Early woodcut map of Turkey. On lower right with Cyprus. On the full sheet. From the German edition of Sebastian Münster's Cosmography, titled Cosmographey oder beschreibung aller Länder ,...

    [Asia Minor]
    1550 - Sebastian Münster
    12603

    Antique woodcut map of Asia Minor. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1550.

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  • Münster, World Map, 1550 [1578]: Das Erst General, inhaltend die beschreibung und den Circkel des gantzen Erdtrichs und Möre

    Sebastian Münster:  Das Erst General, inhaltend die beschreibung und den Circkel des gantzen Erdtrichs und Möre

    Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1550 [1578]

    16th Century Woodcut Map of the World.Early woodcut world map by Sebastian Münster. This 'modern' map of the world is an oval projection with a vigorous surround of clouds and lusty...

    Das Erst General, inhaltend die beschreibung und den Circkel des gantzen...
    1550 - Sebastian Münster
    12838

    16th century woodcut map of the world. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1578.

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  • Münster, Ptolemy Geographia, 1552: Geographiae Claudii Ptolemaei Alexandrini, Philosophi ac Mathematici praestantissimi, Libri VIII... his accesserunt......

    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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  • Magnus, Scandinavia, 1567: [Scandinavia]

    Olaus Magnus:  [Scandinavia]

    Henric Petri, Basle, 1567

    Olaus Magnus' Important Map of Scandinavia.Very rare and important map of Scandinavia by Olaus Magnus, printed in 1567. From the Historia Olai Magni gothi archiepiscopi Upsalensis De...

    [Scandinavia]
    1567 - Olaus Magnus
    12744

    Antique woodcut map of Scandinavia. Printed in Basle by Henric Petri in 1567.

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  • Ortelius, Germany, 1570: Germania.

    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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  • Ortelius, Russia, Tartary, 1570: Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus

    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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  • Ortelius, Southeast Asia, 1570: Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus

    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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  • Ortelius, World Map, 1570 [1572]: Typus Orbis Terrarum

    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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  • Ortelius, Germany, 1571: Germania

    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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  • Ortelius, Germany, 1572-73: Germania

    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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  • Porcacchi, British Isles, Scotland, 1572: Scotia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Scotia.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Scotia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Scotia.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Scotland. This finely-executed map shows Scotland with the Orkney Islands, Shetlands and the Hebrides. With two sailing ships, compass...

    Scotia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Scotia.
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12362

    Antique map of Scotland. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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  • Porcacchi, British Isles, Ireland, 1572: Irlanda - Descrittione dell'Isola d'Irlanda.

    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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  • Porcacchi, Central America - Caribbean, Cayman, Jamaica, Cuba: Cuba - Cvba - Descrittione dell' Isola Cuba, che dal Colombo

    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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  • Porcacchi, Cyprus, 1572: Cipro - Descrittione dell'Isola di Cipro.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Cipro - Descrittione dell'Isola di Cipro.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Cyprus. One of the earliest obtainable separate maps of Cyprus. This finely-executed map shows the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. With...

    Cipro - Descrittione dell'Isola di Cipro.
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12369

    Antique map of Cyprus. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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  • Porcacchi, North America, 1572: Mondo Nuovo - Descrittione dell'Isola et Terra di di Santa Croce, ouero Mondo Nuovo.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Mondo Nuovo - Descrittione dell'Isola et Terra di di Santa Croce, ouero Mondo Nuovo.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    The earliest obtainable map of North America. Printed in 1572.Rare first edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of North America. The earliest obtainable map of North America,...

    Mondo Nuovo - Descrittione dell'Isola et Terra di di Santa Croce, ouero...
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12371

    Antique map of North America. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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  • Porcacchi, Sweden, Gotland, 1572: Gotlandia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Gotlandia.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Gotlandia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Gotlandia.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Gotland, the largest island of Sweden. This finely-executed map shows the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea and is one of the...

    Gotlandia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Gotlandia.
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12372

    Antique map of Gotland. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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  • Porcacchi, Greece, Corfu, 1572: Corfu - Descrittione dell'Isola di Corfu.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Corfu - Descrittione dell'Isola di Corfu.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Corfu. This finely-executed map shows the Mediterranean island of Corfu oriented to the northeast. With a compass rose, a sailing ship,...

    Corfu - Descrittione dell'Isola di Corfu.
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12374

    Antique map of Corfu. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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  • Porcacchi, Malta, 1572: Malta - Descrittione dell'Isola di Malta.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Malta - Descrittione dell'Isola di Malta.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Malta. This finely-executed map shows the Mediterranean island of Malta with Valetta. Oriented to the southwest. With a compass rose, a...

    Malta - Descrittione dell'Isola di Malta.
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12379

    Antique map of Malta. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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  • Porcacchi, Italy, Sicilia, Sicily, 1572: Sicilia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Sicilia.

    Tomaso Porcacchi:  Sicilia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Sicilia.

    Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572

    First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Sicily (Sicilia). This finely-executed map shows the Mediterranean island of Sicily oriented to the north. With a compass rose, a...

    Sicilia - Descrittione dell'Isola di Sicilia.
    1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
    12381

    Antique map of Sicily, Sicilia. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.

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