Cartographers Union

Behold, an updated Paris Metro map. This redesign features a more circular schematic representation of the city that results in fewer curves and less confusion. It also has updated icons and dotted lines that represent future routes. You can learn more about it at http://metromap.fr/en http://ift.tt/2frt18L

As far as what we love about old maps, this Willem Barentsz map of Novaya Zemlya, Russia from the late 16th century has it all. An ornate cartouche and two awesome compass roses. It also does not lack for sea monsters. Willem Barentsz was a pretty fascinating character as an accomplished explorer and cartographer. He died in 1597 while returning from being stranded on Novaya Zemlya while in search of the Northeast passage. http://ift.tt/2d5Qha7

We found thins great topographic map of Crested Butte, CO on the @esrigram website where they have tons of cool old topographic maps from all over the United Stares. This one is from 1888. We imagine Crested Butte has changed since then but the topography hasn't much. http://ift.tt/2cmDZuj

This is an interesting depiction of Alexandria from 1575. This was trying time for the mighty Egyptian city that had recently been hit by earthquakes, tidal waves and the plague. You can see little ruins and fallen columns in the details. http://ift.tt/2cf2jhM

We've been on an illustrated map kick and don't intend to let up anytime soon. This is Eger Hungary made by Braun and Hogenberg in 1617. It comes from a book titled Civitates orbis terrarium which contains 546 bird's eye maps of contemporary cities all over the world. Crazy. http://ift.tt/2bVe6hT

This is a cool poster from Expo 61. This was an international labor exhibition located in Turin, Italy in 1961. This poster features a great illustration of the city situated at the base of the mighty alps. Some cool typography going on here too. http://ift.tt/2bCYUVD

Here is a detail from a very fun illustrated map of Melbourne Australia from 1934, the city's centenary year. http://ift.tt/2bxedDI

A partial view of a map of Amsterdam from around 1567. http://ift.tt/2bexuXM

This is a detail from a map of Wuhan in central China dating from 1876. http://ift.tt/2aGBZKD

This is a colored woodcut from 1493 featuring what is today called Strasbourg. Interestingly enough, back then it was called Argentina! And is labeled as such. The town may have been originally named for the Latin word Argentum, which means silver. Either way, it's a fantastic illustration and the styling is pretty cool. http://ift.tt/2ad5wdS

Another fantastic piece of concept art from Renzo Picasso. This is an idea for a multi-layered highway system for Manhattan. The idea features seven levels. Six for automobiles and pedestrians. And one underground for the subway. Sorry about being away so long. Summer has been a blast but it's been busy. Please check out my other project @break_north We have a Kickstarter that is live right now. http://ift.tt/2abi9UP

Here is another crazy 3D map of a subway station. This time it's from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station. Judging from this map, it's quite a confusing place. http://ift.tt/28ZaSbe

This is a very exciting depiction of the Piccadilly Circus Tube Station drawn by Renzo Picasso in 1929. It's sort of unnerving to see the double-decker buses floating in space but a lot of fun to look at. We found this over at the @transit_maps blog, so be sure to check that out. http://ift.tt/29ei9V8

This is a depiction of Kraków from Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, which was sort of a very early world encyclopedia. Published in 1493, it contained the first illustrations of many cities and countries. http://ift.tt/28StmuE

This is a cool map of the Scottish clans. It features the coat of arms of all the clans and the corresponding geographical areas they inhabited. Drop us a line of you'd like to see this in our store. http://ift.tt/28QGf8Q

This map was published by General Foods in 1934 to advertise radio broadcasts of Admiral Richard Byrd's second Antarctic expedition. It has cool illustration and an interesting diagram in the upper left hand corner that explains how the radio transmission made its way to the United States. Of course, the story of the expedition took a turn when cabin fever set in and Byrd's transmissions started to sound strange. They decided to go down and rescue him which took some doing because he was so isolated on the continent. Eventually they reached him and found him in poor health. But they were able to get him back to civilization. We have this map for sale in our online store. All illustrated maps like these are currently on sale. http://ift.tt/28QdI6l

Nat a map but still super cool. This is a interplanetary travel poster commissioned by NASA advertising Jupiter as a travel destination. Can't wait to book tickets. We have these prints in our store, by the way. http://ift.tt/28MsnvO