1996 handmade map of the Kingdom of the Outlands, based on maps dated 1570-1590, created in 1996 using completely *period materials. (*in this case, period means using the tools, materials and techniques available in the late 16th century).
Created for a regional group in the Society for Creative Anachronism, where it won art awards (Baronial Art & Sciences Champion and Kingdom Art & Sciences Champion) in my local region and at a Tri-Regional competition (War Point, 1997 Estrella War).
The land shown in this map is actually most of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, with a tiny piece of both Nebraska and Texas. I decided to make it an island because it's funny that we're a landlocked kingdom yet somehow have so many pirate characters, which also explains the named ships. The heraldry around the edges represent the arms of each local group at the time, which correspond to actual cities and towns in real life (some of these groups no longer exist, and new groups have appeared in the last 20 years that are not on this map). For instance, Caerthe is Denver, Colorado, Al-Barran is Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Citadel of the Southern Pass is El Paso, Texas. The latitude and longitudes are correct, so if one were to 'sail' west from the lower edge of the map, "Ad Bellum Estrellum" directs you "To Estrella War" in the neighboring Kingdom of Atenveldt (not actually an ocean even though the western sea is named Mare Atenveldtum.)
The two primary mapmaker styles that influenced this work were Abraham Ortelius (Flemish) and the less well-known Camioco (Italian). The majority of influence comes from Ortelius, where I found longitude and latitude lines, ships and water beasts, but from Camioco, I borrowed his styles of castles, trees and calligraphy. The use of a compass rose with portolano lines dates to 1311 on a map by Petrus Vesconte, so this treatment predates the rest of the illustration style of this map.
There are around 200 hours built into the creation of this map, including research and collecting of all the heraldic imagery needed. In 1996 this was a bit difficult since the internet wasn't really up to speed yet :)
Materials used in this work:
Handmade cold press watercolor paper from Fabriano, a company that has been producing paper since around 1300.
Pigments, gum arabic and ox gall bought from The Gabriel Guild ( now the Limners Guild ), a modern distributor of period art supplies.
Hand carved pen made by myself that fits modern speedball nibs, and hand carved feather quills.
Glass stirring sticks to grind and blend pigments
Distilled water, and honey to create the desired consistency of paints
The latin passages were translated by Master Demetrios Bibliophilos. The main quote at the top reads "To the honorable people of this fair realm, this map is dedicated by Lady Brenainn Lamfhada on September the seventh, Anno Sociotatis XXXI. Hail, Outlands!" (the Lady name was my character at the time in this medieval reenactment organization)
The first printing of this map was as a black and white lineart on parchment paper, limited to 500 copies, and is sold out. The second 2 printings were in color as an actual size 22" x 27" watercolor replica of 10 (sold out) and a smaller 12" x 16" digital print of 150 (still available). All prints are signed and numbered. Email me if you'd like a copy of the smaller color map, shipping in a tube, anywhere in the US. They are $25 each + shipping, and I give discounts for multiple copies (anachronista@gmail.com)
Bibliography:
Maps and Map-Makers by R.V. Tooley, Published by Dorset, 1987
Rand McNally Road Atlas 1993
The Knowne World Armorial, published by Free Trumpet Press, published beginning in 1972
This is the out of print single color version of the map. You may notice there is a heraldic device missing from this one that shows on the color version. They got their heraldry approved just before I started coloring it in so I added it then.
