There are numerous unique and important items in the cartographic collections of the Beinecke Library. We have listed here a few of the most significant to give the reader a sense of the collection.
Mexican Map (Codex Reese): Acquired by the Beinecke Library in 1975, this map represents landholdings in sixteenth century Mexico City. Professor Mary Miller has undertaken extensive research on this map, much of which can be found in the book she co-edited with Barbara Mundy: Painting a Map of Sixteenth-Century Mexico City: Land, Writing, and Native Rule (Yale, 2013).
Portolan Maps: We have one of the richest colletions of portolan maps and atlases in North America. These maps originally were used to sail across the Mediteranean and were in continuous use until the seventeenth century. We also have the oldest surviving Portuguese portolan.
Oaxacan Map: A beautiful map with Zapotec and Spanish legends dating from the early seventeenth century. The map is on a single sheet of deerskin. An early land-tenure map.
Lewis and Clark Map
Pigafetta (Magellen)
Cortes, Hernan
Vinland Map
Martellus Map
16th Century Copy of Gough Map
Map of Harlam
Sandborn Maps (New Haven, CT)