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.

Tomaso Porcacchi: Minorica - Descrittione dell'Isola di Minorica.
Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572
First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Minorca, Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares). This finely-executed map shows the Balearic island of Minorca oriented to the east. With a...
Minorica - Descrittione dell'Isola di Minorica.
1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
12383
Antique map of Minorca, Balearic Islands. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.
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Tomaso Porcacchi: Maiorica - Descrittione dell'Isola di Maiorica.
Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro, Venice, 1572
First edition of Porcacchi's very attractive and early map of Mallorca, Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares). This finely-executed map shows the Balearic island of Mallorca oriented to the east. With...
Maiorica - Descrittione dell'Isola di Maiorica.
1572 - Tomaso Porcacchi
12386
Antique map of Mallorca, Majorca, Balearic Islands. Printed in Venice by Simon Galignani, Girolamo Porro in 1572.
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Sebastian Münster: [Asia Minor]
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1574
Early, attractive 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...
[Asia Minor]
1574 - Sebastian Münster
11318
Antique woodcut map of Asia Minor. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1574.
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Sebastian Münster: Beschreibung des Lands Pomern, sampt allen Hertzogthumben, Graueschafften und fürnemmen Stetten...
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1574
Early woodcut map of the Pomerania by Sebastian Munster. Showing the coastal line of the Baltic Sea from Rügen, Usedom to Danzig (Gdansk). With nine coat of arms on top. From the German edition of...
Beschreibung des Lands Pomern, sampt allen Hertzogthumben,...
1574 - Sebastian Münster
11370
Antique woodcut map of Rugen, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1574.
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Sebastian Münster: Beschreibung der Inselen unnd des gantzen Koenigreichs Sicilie.
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1574
Early woodcut map of Sicily (Sicilia) by Sebastian Münster. On the full text sheet. From the German edition of Sebastian Münster's Cosmography, titled Cosmographey oder beschreibung aller Länder ,...
Beschreibung der Inselen unnd des gantzen Koenigreichs Sicilie.
1574 - Sebastian Münster
11389
Antique woodcut map of Sicilia, Sicily. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1574.
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Sebastian Münster: Mörwunder und seltzame thier, wie die in Mitnächtigen ländern gefunden werden
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1574
One of the most sought after 16th century curiosities.The famous charts of mythical sea and land monsters by Sebastian Munster in beautiful colours. With fantastic fishes and lobsters...
Mörwunder und seltzame thier, wie die in Mitnächtigen ländern gefunden...
1574 - Sebastian Münster
11685
Beautiful coloured woodcut of sea and land monsters. Published by Heinrich Petri and printed in Basel in 1574.
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Sebastian Münster: Das erst General, inhaltend die beschreibung und den Circkel des gantzen Erderichs und Möre
Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1574
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...
1574 - Sebastian Münster
11687
16th century woodcut map of the world. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri in 1574.
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Francois de Belleforest: Africae Tabula Nova
Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius, Paris, 1575
Ortelius' Africa Map as a Woodcut. Rare.A large and scarce woodcut map of Africa by Francois de Belleforest. Based on Ortelius' map of Africa from Theatrum Orbis Terrarum , but much rarer...
Africae Tabula Nova
1575 - Francois de Belleforest
11745
Antique woodcut map of the African continent. Printed in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau, Michel Sonnius in 1575.
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Abraham Ortelius: Descriptio Germaniae Inferioris
Gillis van den Rade, Antwerp, 1575
Old coloured antique map of the Low Countries with the Netherlands and Belgium by Abraham Ortelius. Shows the area from The Hague to Cologne and from Emden to Paris. Above a title band held by two...
Descriptio Germaniae Inferioris
1575 - Abraham Ortelius
11903
Old coloured map of the Low Countries with Belgium and the Netherlands. Printed in Antwerp by Gillis van den Rade in 1575.
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Abraham Ortelius: Africae Tabula Nova
Gillis van den Rade, Antwerp, 1575
Antique map of Africa by Abraham Ortelius. From the 1575 Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius. Second state of the plate, still the date 1570 is present in the cartouche...
Africae Tabula Nova
1575 - Abraham Ortelius
12410
Coloured map of the African continent. Printed in Antwerp by Gillis van den Rade in 1575.
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Sebastian Münster: Affricae tabula nova / Africa, Lybia, Morenlandt, mit allen Königreichen so jetziger Zeit darumb...
Petri, Basle, circa 1580
Attractive woodcut map showing the African continent. From a German edition of Cosmographia by Sebastian Munster printed from Petri in Basel 1580. "This map ... was based on Ortelius ... The coast...
Affricae tabula nova / Africa, Lybia, Morenlandt, mit allen Königreichen...
1580 - Sebastian Münster
10110
Coloured woodcut map of the African continent. Printed in Basle by Petri circa 1580.
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Abraham Ortelius: Regni Hispaniae Post Omnium Editiones Locuplettissima Descriptio
Antwerp, 1580
Original old coloured engraved map of Spain and Portugal by A. Ortelius. Showing the Iberian Peninsula with Balearic Islands and parts of northern Africa. With one large cartouche, a mileage scale,...
Regni Hispaniae Post Omnium Editiones Locuplettissima Descriptio
1580 - Abraham Ortelius
10874
Old coloured map of Spain - Portugal. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1580.
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Heinrich Bünting: Beschreibung des heiligen Landes Canaan
A. Duncker, Magdeburg, 1581
Decorative coloured uncommon woodcut map of Palestine / Israel from "Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae" by Heinrich Bunting. His work was much valued after the first edition in 1581, mainly because of...
Beschreibung des heiligen Landes Canaan
1581 - Heinrich Bünting
10840
Coloured woodcut map of Israel, Palestine. Printed in Magdeburg by A. Duncker in 1581.
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Heinrich Bünting: Africa Tertia pars Terrae
Magdeburg, 1581
Rare and early woodcut map of Africa by Heinrich Bunting. The map has an unusual shape, tapering to a narrow angle in the south. Several rivers appear in West Africa and as tributaries to the Nile....
Africa Tertia pars Terrae
1581 - Heinrich Bünting
11197
Coloured woodcut map of Africa. Printed in Magdeburg in the year 1581.
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Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer: Zee Custe van Sweeden otrent de Westerwijck en tgatt vann Stockholm... Kalmar... en Rookoe
Cornelis Claesz, Amsterdam, 1583
Rare sea chart of the east coast of Sweden from the Zeespieghel by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer. Shows the coastline between Kalmar, Kalmarsund, the northern part of Öland up to Stockholm. Splendidly...
Zee Custe van Sweeden otrent de Westerwijck en tgatt vann Stockholm......
1583 - Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer
12409
Coloured sea chart of Sweden. Printed in Amsterdam by Cornelis Claesz in 1583.
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Abraham Ortelius: Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus
Antwerp, 1584
Beautiful original old coloured copper engraved map of the Tartary by A. Ortelius. Showing large part of Asia from Black Sea with Russia, parts of China, a curious early treatment of Japan and an...
Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus
1584 - Abraham Ortelius
11336
Old coloured map of the Northwestern US, Tartary. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.
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Abraham Ortelius: Romaniae, (quae olim Thracia Dicta) Vicinorumq Regionum, uti Bulgariae, Walachiae, Syrfiae, etc....
Antwerp, 1584
Nice original old coloured map of Southeastern Europe with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia to Istanbul in the southeast by Abraham Ortelius. Decorated with a large galleon, two sailing ships, a...
Romaniae, (quae olim Thracia Dicta) Vicinorumq Regionum, uti Bulgariae,...
1584 - Abraham Ortelius
11353
Old coloured map of Serbia, Bulgaria. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.
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Abraham Ortelius: Terra Sancta, a Petro Laicstain Perlustrata, et ab eius Ore et Schedis a Christiano Schrot in...
Antwerp, 1584
Nice original old coloured map of the Holy Land by Abraham Ortelius. Showing the coastal line from Beirut to Gaza. The title cartouche is surrounded by biblical vignettes. In the dramatic scene on...
Terra Sancta, a Petro Laicstain Perlustrata, et ab eius Ore et Schedis a...
1584 - Abraham Ortelius
11357
Old coloured map of Palestine, Israel. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.
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Abraham Ortelius: Septentrionalium Regionum Descrip.
Antwerp, 1584
Fascinating and important map of the North Atlantic by A. Ortelius in stunning original colours.Showing Scandinavia, Siberia and the Arctic regions in the East, the British Isles with the...
Septentrionalium Regionum Descrip.
1584 - Abraham Ortelius
11436
Old coloured map of the North Pole, North Atlantic. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.
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Abraham Ortelius: Siciliae Veteris Typus ...
Balthasar Moretus, Antwerp, 1584 [1624]
One of the most beautiful maps of Sicily ever printed.A striking example of Ortelius' map of Sicily. Showing the Mediterranean island of Sicily (Sicilia) with three cartouches and rich...
Siciliae Veteris Typus ...
1584 - Abraham Ortelius
12688
Coloured map of Sicily (Sicilia). Printed in Antwerp by Balthasar Moretus in 1624.
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Braun & Hogenberg: Danorum Marca, vel Cimbricum, aut Daniae regnum...
Gottfried von Kempen, Cologne, 1585 [1588]
Gorgeous, old coloured map of Denmark by M. Jordanus from the town book Civitates orbis terrarum by Braun and Hogenberg. Showing Denmark with Holstein and Zealand with Bornholm in the east....
Danorum Marca, vel Cimbricum, aut Daniae regnum...
1585 - Braun & Hogenberg
12141
Old coloured map of Denmark. Printed in Cologne by Gottfried von Kempen in 1588.
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Braun & Hogenberg: Danorum Marca, vel Cimbricum, aut Daniae regnum...
Gottfried von Kempen, Cologne, 1585 [1588]
Gorgeous coloured map of Denmark by M. Jordanus from the town book Civitates orbis terrarum by Braun and Hogenberg. Showing Denmark with Holstein and Zealand with Bornholm in the east. Decorated...
Danorum Marca, vel Cimbricum, aut Daniae regnum...
1585 - Braun & Hogenberg
12650
Coloured map of Denmark. Printed in Cologne by Gottfried von Kempen in 1588.
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Rumold Mercator: Orbis Terrae Compendiosa Descriptio Quam ex Magna Universali Gerardi Mercatoris ... Rumoldus...
Jodocus Hondius, Amsterdam, 1587 [1609]
Rumold Mercator's Striking World Map.Old coloured double hemispherical world map by Rumold Mercator. The only world map available to collectors to which Rumold's famous father Gerhard...
Orbis Terrae Compendiosa Descriptio Quam ex Magna Universali Gerardi...
1587 - Rumold Mercator
12648
Old coloured map of the world. Printed in Amsterdam by Jodocus Hondius in 1609.
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Abraham Ortelius: Septentrionalium Regionum Descrip.
Christoffel Plantin, Antwerp, 1587
Ortelius' famous and important map of the North Atlantic. With stunning old colours.The famous and probably the most beautiful map of the North. Shows the North Atlantic with Scandinavia and...
Septentrionalium Regionum Descrip.
1587 - Abraham Ortelius
12682
Old coloured map of the North Pole, North Atlantic. Printed in Antwerp by Christoffel Plantin in 1587.
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