This exhibit contains a small collection of 17th and 18th century maps created through copperplate engraving processes. The maps featured in this collection contain information that links them to the cartographer responsible for their creation. Further information on the map makers is available on the "Cartographers" page.
Maps in this collection are located within the Tatler-Burgess Collection of the Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections.
Copperplate engraving was the most popular method for producing maps from the 16th-19th centuries. Prior to the adoption of copperplate engraved printing methods, woodblocks were used. Copper plates were found to be more durable than the wood blocks and the copper plate was capable of retaining finer lines and details than wood.
The process of copperplate engraving involved engraving a thin sheet of copper with the intended image. Once engraved, ink was applied to the grooves engraved into the plate. The cartographer (or other print maker) would then place a sheet of paper on top of the copper plate and run the print through a rolling press to transfer the ink to the paper.
