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I am an unreachable traveler and a fanatic of history, arts and supernatural things.

These are some strange, peculiar or curious maps of the world. I collected and chose them because I consider them worthy of admiration for their concepts or their aesthetics.

Look the maps up on the web for a more detailed view!

#1

The Land Of Make Believe Map (1930)

The Land Of Make Believe Map (1930)

This map by Czech cartoonist Jaro Hess shows all the rhymes, children's stories and popular songs in a fictional space. It is possible to find Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty and the plant that grew to heaven from Johnny and the beans.

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Audrey Martin
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd like that one as a jigsaw puzzle.

Phobrek
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Jigsaw-Puzzle-Adults-Nautilus/dp/B0CBD47LLR/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=194AQL417D82&keywords=land+of+make+believe+puzzle&qid=1706097802&sprefix=land+of+make+believe+puzzle%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0 Only $130, gulp

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unfilteredCigarette73
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had this somewhere as a child and this just unlocked a few memories

El Cucuy
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think OP means Jack and the Beanstalk (not Johnny).

My name is Mario Yaír T.S. and I love spreading culture. I wrote the guide "Insolita y Secreta Ciudad de México" (Secret Mexico City) published by Thomas Jonglez, the founder and editor of the French company Jonglez, and I used to contribute to Time Out Mexico, Warp, and Atlas Obscura.

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    #2

    Ebstorf Map (1300)

    Ebstorf Map (1300)

    This map is considered a historical curiosity, not only for being the largest in the known medieval world, but for being the work of the female hands of the Ebstorf convent. It shows Christ as the world and in the center the mythical earthly paradise surrounded by a wall of fire.

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    Pedantic Panda
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Beautiful map but I believe it has Jerusalem at the centre as many maps of the time had. Unfortunately the original was destroyed in a bombing raid during WW2.

    Hagebumi
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live where you can admire the copy of the map in the museum. It's huge. At least 2x2 meters. Jerusalem in the middle. What's special about it? Do you see Jesus' head at the top and his hands at his side? He... Jesus... has stretched out his skin and you can see the world map on it. With Jerusalem as the heart.

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    #3

    Serio-Comic War Map (1877)

    Serio-Comic War Map (1877)

    Published in 1877 after the Russian Empire attacked the Ottoman Empire, the British Frederick W. Rose decided to represent Europe in this way.

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    In 2012, I was studying Audiovisual Communication at Claustro de Sor Juana. But school didn't excite me, and I wasn't spending my afternoons buried in homework. Instead, I found myself wandering the streets of the Historic Center in Mexico City, exploring without any particular goal.

    One rainy day, I took shelter in the Gandhi bookstore near Palacio de Bellas Artes. I found a guide to unique places in London. Reading it, I felt Mexico City had even more interesting spots. So, I contacted Thomas Jonglez, suggesting writing a guide for the city. And after 5 years, "Secret Mexico City" was released.

    #4

    World Of Cryptids Map (2020)

    World Of Cryptids Map (2020)

    Illustrated by Laimutė Varkalaitė, the map of the world's cryptids shows the most famous or relevant cryptozoological being in each country. Its publication was included with a map of each continent and an illustration of home.

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    Lee
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Surely Scotland should have the Loch Ness Monster as opposed to the unicorn. The unicorn may be the official animal of the country but nobody claims to see one unlike Nessie.

    Strahd Ivarius
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One missing there is Homo Sapiens Sapiens... never observed in the wild...

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    #5

    America. Its Folklore Map (1946)

    America. Its Folklore Map (1946)

    This map was created by William Gropper to illustrate American legends, myths, and folk tales. There it is possible to see everything from the Salem witches to the Mormon myth of the sacred writings found in Utah.

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    Jakoe
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really like this one. I enjoy reading traditional folk tales, so having a map that places them all is so neat!

    NannernomminNanaPanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This looks so familiar to me! Wonder if this map could have possibly been in a school work book back in the early 70's in the US? Pretty cool!

    Strahd Ivarius
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like mostly white men tales...

    LokisLilButterknife
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a lover of traditional folktales and mythology, I really enjoy this one. I'm not as familiar with traditional folktales from the U.S. (I need to read more), but I can point out "Paul Bunyan" and "John Henry".

    Full of Giggles
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it just me or does one of the Arizona folklores look like a Mexican trying to sneak into the country?

    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't tell a Mormon their sacred writings are a myth. They take them very seriously.

    I am a fan of culture and supernatural things and this collection of maps is a testament to that passion. In fact, a few years ago, I even created a map myself. While stuck at home during quarantine, I thought it would be fun to put miniature monsters on my door, like the ones from medieval times. As I worked on it, it turned into a medieval map with many symbols, hidden surprises, and many different references.

    The monsters on my door weren't just from Europe; they came from other places around the world too. So, it took me a long time to finish the map—I wanted to include creatures from many different cultures.

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    If you're interested, you can check the map on Bored Panda.

    #6

    Mexico City Map (1932)

    Mexico City Map (1932)

    Map of Mexico City in 1932 designed by Emily Edwards where the city is represented as an Aztec eagle warrior.

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    #7

    Peter Pan Map Of Kensington Gardens (1923)

    Peter Pan Map Of Kensington Gardens (1923)

    Inspired by a sculpture of Peter Pan, this map was designed in 1923 to decorate public transport in London in order to entertain passengers waiting for the train. It is a mixture of reality and fiction of actions that fantastic characters carried out in the surroundings.

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    Audrey Martin
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd be so engrossed in the map that I'd miss my train 😂

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    #8

    Diorama Map Of Tokyo (2014)

    Diorama Map Of Tokyo (2014)

    In 2014, the artist Sohei Nishino made a series of large-format maps of different cities around the world, using photographs. The Tokyo map has nearly 10,000 different images of the city that show its spaces, its people, its buildings and even its advertisements.

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    #9

    Map Of The Raw Materials Of The Elements (1600)

    Map Of The Raw Materials Of The Elements (1600)

    This world map made by Antonino de Saliba in 1600 shows in a series of rings the ethereal kingdom of demons (phoenixes and salamanders), the celestial vault, climatic phenomena, crops, the known world, the earth, rivers and volcanoes, to finally end in the center with hell.

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    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like the map they used in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

    #10

    History Of Beijing Map (1936)

    History Of Beijing Map (1936)

    Created by Frank Dorn, this tourist map shows not only the inside and outside of the Forbidden City, but illustrations of the city's history both inside and on the frame.

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    #11

    Santiago De Chile Subway Map (1975)

    Santiago De Chile Subway Map (1975)

    Map with pictograms of the Santiago de Chile metro lines, published the year of its inauguration in 1975.

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    #12

    New York Map (1963)

    New York Map (1963)

    Created as a tourist information map for the 1964 World's Fair, this map designed by Hermann Bollmann shows the city's skyscrapers in detail in 1963.

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    Lee
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to have the same one as Joey and Chandler on FRIENDS.