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.

Sebastian Münster: Die erst Tafel, innhaltend das Schweytzerlandt, mit den anstossenden Ländern / Die ander Tafel...
Sebastian Henric Petri, Basle, 1588
Monumental map of the course of the Rhine river. The three-sheet woodcut map showing the Rhine from the headwaters in Switzerland to its mouth in the North Sea. The map on three leaves was first...
Die erst Tafel, innhaltend das Schweytzerlandt, mit den anstossenden...
1588 - Sebastian Münster
11589
Coloured woodcut map of the Rhine River. Printed in Basle by Sebastian Henric Petri in 1588.
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Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer: De Custen van Een Deel van Denmarken en Swederijk, Beginnede va Vuijtste tot Calmer toe. Orae...
Cornelis Claesz, Amsterdam, 1588
Rare sea chart of the coasts of Sweden by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer. Shows the coastline between Simrishamn and Kalmar with Åhus and the islands Oland, Hanö and Bornholm. With two decorative...
De Custen van Een Deel van Denmarken en Swederijk, Beginnede va Vuijtste...
1588 - Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer
11767
Coloured sea chart of Sweden. Printed in Amsterdam by Cornelis Claesz in 1588.
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Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer: Beschrijuinge vande wterste omlopende custe van Judtlandt aen weder zijden op de Belt en Noortzee...
Cornelis Claesz, Amsterdam, 1588
Rare and very beautiful sea chart of the coasts of Denmark by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer. Shows the coastline of Jutland with Aalborg, Hals, Saeby, Hirtshals to Skagen and the island of Laesoe...
Beschrijuinge vande wterste omlopende custe van Judtlandt aen weder...
1588 - Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer
11768
Coloured sea chart of Jutland. Printed in Amsterdam by Cornelis Claesz in 1588.
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Sebastian Münster: Asia wie es jetziger zeit nach den fürnemesten Herrschafften abgetheilet und beschriben ist.
Sebastian Petri, Basle, 1588
First edition of the second map of Asia by Sebastian Münster. Shows Asia as a continent from Turkey to Southeast Asia and Japan. With a sea monster and a title cartouche. On verso the title with...
Asia wie es jetziger zeit nach den fürnemesten Herrschafften abgetheilet...
1588 - Sebastian Münster
12428
Original antique map of Asia. Printed in Basle by Sebastian Petri in 1588.
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Sebastian Münster: Affricae tabula nova / Africa, Lybia, Morenlandt, mit allen Königreichen so jetziger Zeit darumb
Sebastian Petri, Basle, 1588 (1598)
Beautiful original antique map of Africa by Sebastian Münster. Based on the Ortelius map of 1570, the coast of Brazil was added. With two sailing ships and a sea monster. On verso the title with a...
Affricae tabula nova / Africa, Lybia, Morenlandt, mit allen Königreichen...
1588 - Sebastian Münster
12429
Original antique map of Africa. Printed in Basle by Sebastian Petri in 1598.
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Gerard Mercator: Italia
Gerard Mercator, Duisburg, 1589
True first edition of Mercator's map of Italy with beautiful old colour.Early and important engraved map of Italy with Sardinia and Corsica. This is the real first edition, published in 1589...
Italia
1589 - Gerard Mercator
11498
Old coloured map of Italy. Printed in Duisburg by Gerard Mercator in 1589.
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Theodor de Bry: Americae Pars, Nunc Virginia Dicta, Primum ab Anglis Inventa Sumtibus Dn. Walteri Raleigh...
Theodor de Bry, Frankfurt, 1590
One of the Most Significant Cartographical Milestones on Colonial North American History.A very fine dark impression of the first printed map of Virginia and the Carolinas. From the first...
Americae Pars, Nunc Virginia Dicta, Primum ab Anglis Inventa Sumtibus...
1590 - Theodor de Bry
11188
Coloured map of Virginia. Printed in Frankfurt by Theodor de Bry in 1590.
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Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer: Beschrijuinghe van de Zee Custen va Vlanderen en Picardien ...
Cornelis Claesz, Amsterdam, circa 1590
Rare sea chart of the coast of northern France and Flanders from the Zeespieghel by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer. Shows the coastline between Nieuwpoort and Dieppe, the English Channel and the south...
Beschrijuinghe van de Zee Custen va Vlanderen en Picardien ...
1590 - Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer
12561
Sea chart of the English Channel. Printed in Amsterdam by Cornelis Claesz circa 1590.
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Theodor de Bry: Floridae Americae Provinciae Recens & exactissima descriptio Auctore Iacobo le Moyne...
Theodor de Bry, Frankfurt, 1591
One of the Most Important 16th Century Maps of Florida and the Southeastern United States.A very fine example of De Bry's cornerstone map of Florida. Based on the map Jacques le Moyne prepared...
Floridae Americae Provinciae Recens & exactissima descriptio Auctore...
1591 - Theodor de Bry
12743
Jacques le Moyne's map of Florida. Printed in Frankfurt by Theodor de Bry in 1591.
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Abraham Ortelius: Peregrinationis divi Pauli typus corographicus.
Antwerp, 1592
Hand coloured engraved map of the Eastern Mediterranean by Abraham Ortelius. Covering the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Sicily with Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Turkey. With two biblical scenes...
Peregrinationis divi Pauli typus corographicus.
1592 - Abraham Ortelius
10850
Coloured map of Israel, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Sicily. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1592.
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Abraham Ortelius: Ducatus Mediolanensis, Finitimarumq Regionu Descriptio Auctore Iooanne Georgio Septala Mediolanense
Antwerp, 1592
Beautiful coloured map of northern Italy by A. Ortelius. Showing the area around Milan with Lago di Como, Genoa, Parma, Cremona and Bergamo. With a nice Renaissance cartouche, a sailing ship , a...
Ducatus Mediolanensis, Finitimarumq Regionu Descriptio Auctore Iooanne...
1592 - Abraham Ortelius
10866
Coloured map of Milan, Milano. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1592.
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Christian Adrichem: Situs Terrae Promissionis SS Bibliorum Intelligentiam Exacte Aperiens
A. Mylij, Cologne, 1593
A very large map of the Holy Land printed from two plates. From Christian van Adrichem's famous description of the Holy Land Theatrum Terrae Sanctae et Biblicarum Historiarum , printed 1593 in...
Situs Terrae Promissionis SS Bibliorum Intelligentiam Exacte Aperiens
1593 - Christian Adrichem
12135
Antique map of the Holy Land. Printed in Cologne by A. Mylij in 1593.
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Theodor de Bry: Occidentalis Americae Partis, vel, Earum Regionum quas Christophorus Columbus Primu Detexit...
Theodor de Bry, Frankfurt, 1594
Spectacular 16th Century Map of the West Indies and Florida.Theodore de Bry's fascinating map of the West Indies is based on the Milanese sailor Girolamo Benzoni, who travelled between 1541...
Occidentalis Americae Partis, vel, Earum Regionum quas Christophorus...
1594 - Theodor de Bry
11187
Coloured map of Florida, West Indies. Printed in Frankfurt by Theodor de Bry in 1594.
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Abraham Ortelius: Germania.
Plantin, Antwerp, 1595
Beautiful hand colour copper engraved map of Germany by A. Ortelius. From the 1595 Latin edition of "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum".
Germania.
1595 - Abraham Ortelius
10625
Coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by Plantin in 1595.
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Abraham Ortelius: Parergon, sive Veteris Geographiae aliquot Tabulae. [Bound with:] Nomenclator Ptolemaicus.
Plantin, Antwerp, 1595
The Parergon maps began appearing as supplements within the Theatrum in 1579 with 3 maps. During the following years, more map were completed and the Parergon became an atlas in its own right. The...
Parergon, sive Veteris Geographiae aliquot Tabulae. [Bound with:]...
1595 - Abraham Ortelius
11259
A splendid copy of Ortelius' Atlas of Ancient Geography. All maps and views finely coloured by a contemporary hand.
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Theodor de Bry: America sive Novus Orbis Respectu Europaeorum Inferior Globi Terrestris Pars 1596
Theodor de Bry, Frankfurt, 1596
De Bry's Beautifully Engraved Map of the New World.A very fine full color example of De Bry's scarce map of North and South America. With full-length portraits of the important explorers...
America sive Novus Orbis Respectu Europaeorum Inferior Globi Terrestris...
1596 - Theodor de Bry
12579
Coloured map of the American continent. Printed in Frankfurt by Theodor de Bry in 1596.
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Abraham Ortelius: Africae tabula nova
Antwerp, 1598
Beautiful original coloured map of the African continent. From the 1598 French edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius. Fifth state of the copperplate, still the date 1570 is present...
Africae tabula nova
1598 - Abraham Ortelius
10112
Old coloured map of the African continent. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1598.
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Girolamo Ruscelli: Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino Tradotta di Greco nell'Idioma Volgare Italiano da...
M. Sessa Erben, Venice, 1598-99
Sixth edition of Ruscelli's translation of Ptolemy's Geografia edited and extended by Giuseppe Rosaccio published by the Hires of M. Sessa in 1598 and 1599. Illustrated with 69 double page...
Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino Tradotta di Greco nell'Idioma...
1598 - Girolamo Ruscelli
10870
A 16th century Ptolemy Atlas, published by the Hires of Sessa in Venice during the years 1598-99.
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Abraham Ortelius: Regni Hispaniae Post Omnium Editiones Locuplettissima Descriptio
Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1598
Antique 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, sailing ships and sea...
Regni Hispaniae Post Omnium Editiones Locuplettissima Descriptio
1598 - Abraham Ortelius
12092
Coloured map of Spain - Portugal. Printed in Antwerp by Plantin Press in 1598.
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Abraham Ortelius: Typus Orbis Terrarum
Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1598
An old coloured and early example of one of the most famous world maps ever published. From the first modern atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius. "As the first world map occurring...
Typus Orbis Terrarum
1598 - Abraham Ortelius
12786
Antique map of the world by Abraham Ortelius. Published in 1598 in Antwerp.
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Matthias Quad: Thietmarsiae Holsaticae regionis partis typus Auctore Petro Boeckel
J. Bussemacher, Cologne, circa 1600
Antique map of Dithmarschen, Schleswig-Holstein by Matthias Quad. Shows Dithmarschen between the North Sea, Eider and Elbe. From Brunsbüttel to St. Annen, with Heide and Hemmingstedt in the centre....
Thietmarsiae Holsaticae regionis partis typus Auctore Petro Boeckel
1600 - Matthias Quad
12389
Old coloured map of Dithmarschen, Schleswig-Holstein. Printed in Cologne by J. Bussemacher circa 1600.
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Abraham Ortelius: Scotiae Tabula
Antwerp, 1602
Original old coloured map of Scotland by A. Ortelius. With one large cartouche, one sailing ship and a sea monster. From the 1602 German edition of "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum". Based on Mercator's...
Scotiae Tabula
1602 - Abraham Ortelius
10879
Old coloured map of Scotland. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1602.
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Abraham Ortelius: Daniae regni typus / Cimbricae Chersonesi nunc Iutiae
Jan Baptist Vrients, Antwerp, 1602
Antique map of Denmark by A. Ortelius. Two maps on one sheet. The left map shows the entire Kingdom of Denmark with Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the south....
Daniae regni typus / Cimbricae Chersonesi nunc Iutiae
1602 - Abraham Ortelius
12763
Antique map of Denmark. Printed in Antwerp by Jan Baptist Vrients in 1602.
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Abraham Ortelius: Africae Tabula Nova
Antwerp, 1603
Beautiful hand coloured map of the African continent. From the 1603 Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius. Fifth state of the copperplate, still the date 1570 is present in...
Africae Tabula Nova
1603 - Abraham Ortelius
10656
Coloured map of the African continent. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1603.
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