Glossary of Terms
Colouring of maps
By Pierre Joppen
Sep 25, 2005, 05:33

1. Contemporary Colour. Colouring varies with old maps. When they were produced some maps were fully coloured at the time, some were partly coloured, some were coloured in outline, and many not coloured at all. When maps were coloured at or close to the time of production it is referred to as contemporary colour as it is contemporary to the printing of the map. Maps were originally coloured to enhance appearance and readability. Generally three or four colours (green, pink, orange and yellow) distinguished political subdivisions, black was used for names, red coloured cathedrals or other buildings distinguish large cities and blue stands for water.

2. Modern Colour. Often older maps issued without colour have colour added in whole or in part. Any colour added long after the map was issued is referred to as modern colour. Modern colour can be skillfully applied or less so but it usually is in outline and may or may not be historically correct. If it is skillfully applied and historically correct it is often difficult to distinguish from contemporary colour. If you are in doubt you can ask a map dealer. Usually they can distinguish between the two.

3. Pros and Cons. Most dealers and collectors agree that contemporary full colour is best and that bad modern colour is undesirable but after that there is substantial lack of agreement. Many uncoloured maps are much more attractive with skillfully applied modern colour. A few collectors prefer maps only as originally issued coloured or not but most dealers agree that skillful modern colour enhances interest and thus value of many maps. It is very much an individual collectors choice.