Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Map, postal
(874 words)

1. Concept and definition

From the 17th to the 19th centuries, postal maps were one of the most important travel aids of the early modern period, contributing to strengthening and clarifying networks across Europe. These works combined cartography (Map, road/street) with (postal) scheduling (Itinerary) and distance tabulation (mile markers, mile disks) in order to give a visual impression of spatial conditions. These travel maps omitted any reference to road or street names, fo…

Cite this page
Didczuneit, Veit, “Map, postal”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 21 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_025769>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190801



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