https://www.newberry.org/news/digitization-complete-for-world-renowned-franco-novacco-map-collection * Skip to content Newberry Library * Visit * Calendar * Collection * Research * Learn * Support * About * Ask a Librarian * Catalog * Bookshop * Donate * Search Back * Visit * Readers Card * Group & Class Visits * Accessibility * Visit FAQ Back * Calendar * Exhibitions * Public Programs Back * Collection * Core Subjects + American History & Culture + American Indian & Indigenous Studies + Chicago & the Midwest + Genealogy & Local History + History of the Book + Maps, Travel, & Exploration + Medieval, Renaissance, & Early Modern Studies + Modern Manuscripts & Archives + Performing Arts + Postcards + Religion * Digital Collection * Modern Manuscripts & Archives * Order Digital Files * Collection FAQ Back * Research * Use the Library + Use the Collection in Person + Ask a Librarian + Login to Your Account + Research Guides + Catalog + Databases * Research Centers + Center for Renaissance Studies + D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies + Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography * Fellowships * Artists in Residence * Scholars in Residence * Scholarly Seminars Back * Learn * Adult Education Classes * Teacher Programs * Undergraduate Learning * The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award Back * Support * Make a Gift * Giving Societies * Volunteer * Donate Books & Materials * Donor Digest Toggle mobile menu Newberry Library * Visit * Calendar * Collection * Research * Learn * Support * About * Ask a Librarian * Catalog * Bookshop * Donate * Search * Visit * Readers Card * Group & Class Visits * Accessibility * Visit FAQ * Calendar * Exhibitions * Public Programs * Collection * Core Subjects + American History & Culture + American Indian & Indigenous Studies + Chicago & the Midwest + Genealogy & Local History + History of the Book + Maps, Travel, & Exploration + Medieval, Renaissance, & Early Modern Studies + Modern Manuscripts & Archives + Performing Arts + Postcards + Religion * Digital Collection * Modern Manuscripts & Archives * Order Digital Files * Collection FAQ * Research * Use the Library + Use the Collection in Person + Ask a Librarian + Login to Your Account + Research Guides + Catalog + Databases * Research Centers + Center for Renaissance Studies + D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies + Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography * Fellowships * Artists in Residence * Scholars in Residence * Scholarly Seminars * Learn * Adult Education Classes * Teacher Programs * Undergraduate Learning * The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award * Support * Make a Gift * Giving Societies * Volunteer * Donate Books & Materials * Donor Digest Search [ ] Show Results for: Website (*) Library Catalog ( ) Go to catalog Home News Digitization Complete for World-Renowned Franco Novacco Map Collection Posted Oct 21, 2024 Lili Pangborn Newly digitized map collection makes over 750 sixteenth- and seventeenth-century maps available online. Novacco 4 F 16 00001 edit 2 Vniversale descritione di tvtto il mondo, Gioseppe Rosaccio, 1647. Call number: Novacco 4F 16 (PrCt) The Newberry has recently completed the digitization of over 750 maps printed in Italy during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Franco Novacco Map Collection, one of the strongest of its kind in the world, reflects Europeans' evolving conceptions of the world during a time of widespread exploration and colonization. Many of the maps in the Novacco collection feature battle scenes, such as Il Grande et miracoloso fatto d'arme navale... a black-and-white map portraying the Battle of Lepanto, created by Stephanus Ghebellinus in 1572. [9991211588] Il Grande et miracoloso fatto d'arme navale... Stephanus Ghebellinus, 1572. Call number: Novacco 4F 109 (PrCt) A large portion of the collection includes world maps of all sizes, ranging from functional to more experimental. One 1590 cordiform map, for example, places the heart-shaped world inside of a fool's cap, resulting in an unsettling visual commentary on previous conceptions of world geography. A 1555 map, alternatively, presents the world in gores, or segmented parts, which can be cut out and pasted onto a sphere to create a globe. This blend of art, science, and history is at the heart of the Franco Novacco Collection. [9991199188] Cordifom world map within fool's cap, 1590. Call number: Novacco 2F 6 (PrCt) "Whether you want to wander through marveling at sea monsters or compare intricate differences in representations of Rome, the Novacco Collection has something for you," David Weimer, Robert A. Holland Curator of Maps and Director of the Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography, emphasized. "These maps illustrate the startling breadth of scientific and artistic practice in Early Modern Europe." The Newberry Library acquired the Novacco Collection from the Venetian map collector Franco Novacco himself in 1967. Since then, the maps have only been available for viewing on-site in the Newberry's reading rooms. In early 2022, the Newberry received generous funding from Mr. Rudy L. Ruggles, Jr. and Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps to begin digitizing the entirety of the collection. [9991241688] World map in gores, Antonius Florianus, 1555. Call number: Novacco 4F 46 (PrCt) Using special cameras and lenses designed for flat art photography, image technicians from the Newberry and The Digital Archive Group created high-definition images that will enable researchers around the world to study these maps in staggering detail. The Newberry Digital Initiatives and Services team then organized the digital assets, adding descriptions and metadata to improve searchability and ease of access. With growing digitization technology and newly fortified digital asset management systems, this project plays a role in the Newberry's larger goal to increase the accessibility of its collections, making it possible for anyone around the world to view renowned archival documents. "Although the Newberry holds one of the world's premiere map collections, this format has been significantly underrepresented in our digital library, since we lack facilities for oversize digitization," said Jen Wolfe, Digital Scholarship and Outreach Librarian. "The Novacco digital collection allows us to start to fill in that gap and open up more of the Newberry's cartographic materials to a global audience." The Novacco Collection has been fully digitized and is now available as part of the Newberry's growing, free Digital Collections, with high-resolution files available for public re-use. The maps may be of particular interest to scholars of map history, geographers and cartographers, art historians, and map enthusiasts. About the Author Lili Pangborn is Communications Coordinator at the Newberry. Newberry Library About Accessibility Blog Careers Hours & Location Land Acknowledgment The Newberry Magazine News & Announcements Staff Directory Venue Rentals Sign Up for Our Mailing List Email Address [ ] [ ] Submit Follow us On Social Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Visit the Library 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610 Contact by Phone (312) 943-9090 Policies Ask a Librarian Plan Your Visit