Realms of Gold: A Catalogue of Maps in the Library of the American Philosophical Society, American Philosophical Society

Table of contents

Abstract

Realms of Gold overview

Murphy D. Smith created this guide to the map holdings of the American Philosophical Society in 1991. The guide is divided into four main sections:

The bulk of the maps described are found within the printed maps section, which is further subdivided by geographic location. The printed guide was digitized in 2005 and supplemented by the addition of a significant number of digital images of the maps described. These digital representations are maintained in JPEG2000 format, an emerging standard for image compression. Each entry for which there is a corresponding scan features a small thumbnail that links to the JPEG2000 image. Not every map in the collection was scanned for this project. Inventories of all the digitized maps may be found in the following locations:

Scope & content
- Arrangement
Administrative information
- Processing information
Collection inventory
- Eastern Hemisphere

Scope and content

The printed maps are arranged geographically according to the Dewey Decimal System. Each major subdivision is presented as a unique page as follows:

Arrangement

The printed maps are arranged in the order in which they were catalogued, which for the most part follows the Dewey Decimal area classification system. Within a given area or country they are arranged chronologically. "Wheat numbers" are given for maps cited in James Clement Wheat and Christian F. Brun's Maps and charts published in America before 1800. A bibliography. The printed maps are described as follows as the information warrants:

Date (date of reproduction is used for facsimiles)
Title or description (supplied titles are bracketed)
Number of pieces (if more than one)
Scale
Cartographer(s)
Engraver(s)
Size (neat line, plate impression, or size of paper; unless otherwise noted, measurements are taken from neat lines)
Inset(s)
Coloring
Provenance
Note (cross-references, bibliographical references, etc.)
Wheat number
Call number

Administrative information

Processing information

Murphy D. Smith created the original guide 1991; Ellen Foster edited the online version in 2005.