Maps were originally colored to enhance appearance and readability. Generally three or four colors (green, pink, orange and yellow) distinguished political subdivisions, black was used for names, red colored cathedrals or other buildings distinguish large cities and blue stands for water.

Prior to the adoption of printed color in the late nineteenth century, almost all maps were printed in black ink, with no color. With a few exceptions, almost all the color that appears on early maps was applied sometime after printing.

Mar 22, 2022 · There are some maps which were not intended to be colored: the Italians thought that coloring obscured the detail and the quality of their engraved work. There are other maps which lend themselves to color, particularly the plainer maps of the 18th century and those which are crowded with detail.

Feb 26, 2025 · The simple answer is: most old maps were not originally in color. Prior to the late 19th century, the vast majority of maps were printed in black ink on white or off-white paper. Any colors you might see on older maps were almost always applied by hand after the map was printed, often by the map owner or a professional colorist.

Some maps were not meant to be colored; in particular, maps from the late 15th through early 16th centuries were published in black ink without any color added. With these early maps, most collectors prefer that they remain in their original uncolored state.

A map in its original color will sell for more than double the price of the same map, uncolored or with recently applied colors. All reputable dealers can distinguish between old, later and modern colors in almost all cases and they note if a map is in original, later, or recent colors.

Jun 22, 2024 · The process of printing old maps between the 16th and 19th centuries involved engraving. A copper plate was first incised with a sharp tool to create the desired image. The plate was then inked and wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised areas.

Jan 10, 2025 · For two and a half centuries, from about 1600 to 1850, the vast majority of European style commercial maps published in Europe and the Americas were engraved, primarily on copper plates. These maps were printed in monochrome, with the thick black printer’s ink that remained in the lines cut into the copper pressed in reverse onto the paper.

The Old Map Color Scheme has 6 colors, which are Ming (#3B727C), Pale Taupe (#B9A37E), Dark Vanilla (#D1BE9D), Asparagus (#82A775), Deep Puce (#B05F66) and Quincy (#64513B). The RGB and CMYK values of the colors are in the table below along with the closest RAL and PANTONE® numbers.

Get creative with our vintage map colouring feature. Perfect for art lovers and history buffs alike. A fun, interactive way to experience history.