Rare Philippine Maps
A visit to the Lopez Museum last week brought to light a collection of old and rare Philippine Maps. It was revealing discovery to see centuries-old maps of the Philippine islands, how they developed, and evolved.
"Coordinates"
It was interesting to observe how the Spaniards, or the world for that matter, perceived of the Philippines during those times.
I was even curious with one map which classified the Palawan islands, by color, with that of Borneo instead of the Philippines. I am no expert in maps, perhaps it was just a playful interpretation of my mind. 
Lopez Museum's "Coordinates" Exhibit
As they say,
“Maps are abstractions of not just [the] physical but charged, political delimitations of territory.”
The exhibition of maps was entitled “Coordinates.”It housed an inventory of maps and collections from the American Geographical Society, Library of Congress, Pan American Union, Dept. of Agriculture, University of Michigan, Professors Robert B. Hall and George B. Cressy, among others.
Jacques Nicolas Bellin Murillo Velarde Map; 1752
Bellin, Jacques Nicolas. Carte des Isles Philippine dresse sur la carte expagnole des R.P. Murillo de Velarde. 29.5 x 21.1 cm. 1752
Old and Rare Manila Map
Plano De Manila y sus Arrabales. Impr. de Lit. de Ramon Montes. 73×49.2 cm. 1896
Murillo Velarde Philippine Maps; 1734
Murillo Velarde, Pedro. Mapa de las Yslas Philipinas
Rare Philippine Map
Antique Philippine Map
No-So-Philippines yet
Maps promote spatial understanding of the world, including one’s place in it as city dweller, national and kin to others living in an imagined region of commonality and shared desires.
"Coordinates" - A Collection of Lopez Museum's Old & Rare Maps
The exhibition of Philippine Maps at the Lopez Museum entitled “Coordinates” is a fitting label for these markers which define the boundaries of territories, an illustration of what is yours and what is mine.
Tags: Coordinates, Jacques Nicolas Bellin Maps, Lopez Museum, Maps, Murillo Velarde, Old, Philippine, Philippine Maps, Rare
October 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
interesting! if you look at one of the maps above, you’ll notice that palawan has a different color! like it isn’t part of the philippines yet!
October 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
@fortuitous - yeah, palawan was colored same as Borneo
October 8th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Woah! That’s super cool!!
October 9th, 2009 at 10:27 am
cool!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
hi! just wanna know where can i buy antique maps like the above ones?thanks!
October 26th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
@Jha - Hi, the maps above are from the Lopez Museum in Ortigas. I don’t have information on where you can purchase similar antique maps.
You may try to contact the Lopez Museum whose info I have posted in a related article.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
hi jha
we only saw this now by coincidence
our gallery for antique prints has been in existence in Manila
since 1995, originally at Megamall in the Artwalk and for the past years since 2002 in Glorietta IV, 3rd floor
Come and visit us - we are the only Gallery in the Philippines specialising in old prints and old books before 1900 - prices of these genuine originals start from P 2200.- but due their rarity can reach over P 100,000 of course - and then we also carry some reproductions which are naturally in a very low price range.
mabuhay!