The Catalan Atlas, crafted circa 1375 by Cresques Abraham of the Majorcan cartographic school, stands as the zenith of medieval map-work and the most important medieval map in the Catalan language. A Jewish book illuminator famed for mappae mundi and compasses, Cresques fused erudition with dazzling imagery. The seas undulate in vertical bands of wavy blue, while cities bristle with colored flags proclaiming allegiance. Religious symbology distinguishes Christian centers crowned with crosses from others capped by domes, all gravitating around the Atlas’s spiritual anchor: Jerusalem at the center. Designed to be read flat, with inscriptions oriented toward the margins, this grand synthesis marries art and knowledge. Its distinctive compass rose marks the first known use on a portolan chart.

Spanning Europe, North and West Africa, and the fabled Orient from India to Cathay (China), the Atlas distills the geographical understanding of the late 14th century into a legible, enthralling panorama. Cresques synthesized sailors’ observations with medieval travel literature—above all Marco Polo—then added narrative texts that explain local customs, rulers, and the sources of wealth. Human figures in varied dress animate deserts, steppes, and coastal markets; stylized landforms and waterways guide the eye along caravan paths and sea lanes. Trade routes thread the Mediterranean to Saharan entrepôts and onward to Indian Ocean ports, with pictorial cues to gold, spices, and silk. The result is both itinerary and encyclopedia, a lucid guide to power, profit, and belief.

Political and spiritual cartography interlace across the sheet. Crosses signal Christian strongholds; domes and other emblems mark Islamic and non-Christian cities; and a riot of colored banners records the shifting allegiances of empires and towns. The realms of the Golden Horde are plotted alongside major European and North African cities and bustling Mediterranean ports—centers of maritime trade set amid a mesh of rhumb-like bearings radiating from the compass rose. The Atlas’s unique orientation, with images and text turning toward the edges, reinforces its function as a table atlas meant for consultation. Readers could decode sovereignty, faith, and commerce at a glance, a clarity unmatched in contemporary mappae mundi or purely nautical charts.

West Africa receives an unprecedented prominence. Most famously, Mansa Musa of the Mali Empire appears enthroned, gleaming orb of gold in hand, an emblem of the Niger’s great bullion and the lure of trans-Saharan caravans. Nearby polities—Kanem-Bornu, the Yoruba heartland of Ife, and coastal trade cities—anchor a network of routes that fed Mediterranean markets. Illustrations and captions detail the extraction and movement of wealth, from goldfields to salt and textiles, transforming distant rumors into legible geography. In portraying rulers, resources, and roads together, the Atlas shaped Europe’s imagination of Africa and influenced later quests for commerce, charting a world where the desert was not emptiness but a highway of exchange.

To the east, the Atlas moves from the courts of Cathay to Indian cities and East Asian regions, mingling keen observation with the marvels of lore. The Kingdom of Organa and the vast sway of the Golden Horde bracket the Silk Road, while ports of the Orient beckon with spices and gems. Myth and scripture surface at the frontiers: the apocalyptic nations of Gog and Magog stand as sentinels of the unknown, reminding readers where certainty gave way to wonder. Through crisp vignettes and explanatory notes, Cresques reconciles sacred geography—Jerusalem at the world’s heart—with the practical intelligence of merchants and pilots, capturing the late medieval mind at the cusp of global connection.

Places on this map

• Jerusalem
• Mansa Musa of the Mali Empire
• Kanem-Bornu
• Ife Empire
• Cathay (China)
• The Kingdom of Organa
• Golden Horde
• Gog and Magog
• Important ports 
• Major European cities 
• North African cities
• Indian cities
• Regions of the Orient
• Coastal Trade Cities
• East Asian regions
• Centers of maritime trade
• Mediterranean cities
  
• Depictions of mythological or legendary places from travel literature

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Central positioning of Jerusalem
• Distinctive compass rose, marking the first known use on a portolan chart
• Illustrations of cities with religious symbols: crosses for Christian cities, domes for others
• Detailed depictions of trade routes and a variety of human figures representing different cultures
• Political flags representing allegiance of cities and regions
• Blue wavy lines to signify oceans and waterways
• Various notable empires represented, such as the Mali Empire and the Golden Horde
• Stylized oceans and land features, adding to the visual richness of the map
• Imagery related to the economic resources of different regions, such as gold and spices
• Narrative texts explaining customs and significant locations

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Catalan Atlas
• Creation date: Approximately 1375, with possible creation in the late 1370s to early 1380s
• Mapmaker: Cresques Abraham, a Jewish book illuminator associated with the Majorcan cartographic school
• Mapmaker context: Recognized for expertise in creating mappae mundi and compasses
• Regions shown: Europe, North and West Africa, and parts of Asia, particularly the Orient (including India and China)
• Design and orientation: Intricate illustrations with text and images oriented toward the edges, suggesting it was intended to be displayed flat
• Historical significance: Regarded as “the zenith of medieval map-work” and the most important medieval map in the Catalan language
• Intellectual context: Synthesized information from medieval travel literature, notably Marco Polo’s accounts
• Significance to knowledge: Reflects the geographical understanding of its time and integrates both historical facts and mythological references

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the undefined version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

Alcune delle mie vecchie mappe sono ora disponibili come tele incorniciate. Per favore contattami se desideri ordinare una dimensione che non è disponibile nel mio negozio.

Le vecchie mappe su tela sono un'alternativa interessante alle mappe incorniciate in modo convenzionale. A seconda del tuo gusto personale e dell'arredamento della stanza, le mappe su tela possono "risaltare" un po' di più rispetto a una mappa incorniciata.

Scopri di più sulle mie mappe su tela incorniciate.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.