Historical Maps
On April 24, 1869 Emperor Franz Joseph I decreed the reorganisation of the k.k. Militärgeographische Institut (the predecessor of the BEV) and a new cartographic survey (Landesaufnahme), called the 3rd or Francisco- Josephinische Landesaufnahme (1869 - 1887).
The scale set for the coloured map sheets was 1:25 000, in Transylvania the new survey had already been started and was continued in the scale 1:28 800. In the area of Vienna, 47 sheets in the scale 1:12 500 were mapped. It took only 18 years to cover the whole Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
The new Special Map 1:75 000 was derived from the 3rd Landesaufnahme as a homogeneous frame map. Shading and contour lines were combined in this map for the very first time, a fact to be particularly highlighted. By generalising the Special Map 1:75 000, other maps, e.g. the General Map of Central Europe 1:200 000 and the Overview Map of Central Europe in the scale 1:750 000 were produced.
Historical Maps
In BEV′s map archives different historical maps are managed and older editions of the present range of publications are archived. The following historical maps are available:
3rd Landesaufnahme (1869 - 1887)
The 3rd or Francisco-Josephinische Landesaufnahme took only 18 years to map the whole monarchy in polyhedra projection on 2 780 sheets in coloured hand drawings. The survey scale was 1:25 000. In the area of Vienna 47 sheets in the scale 1:12 500 were made.
4th Landesaufnahme (1896 - 1915)
Until 1915 only 388 sheets of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy were mapped in the course of the 4th or Precision Landesaufnahme. Only 25 of them cover parts of today′s Austria. The survey scale remained 1:25 000 as in the 3rd Landesaufnahme.
Special Map 1:75 000 (1872 - 1944)
The trapezoidal sheets in the sheet cut 30′ x 15′ - longitude and latitude (starting from Ferro) - were published from 1872 onwards. In addition to the 752 sheets of the monarchy, there are also some sheets covering foreign territory. From 1912 onwards, some sheets were published in multicolour print.
Overview Map of Central Europe 1:750 000
Projection Bonne (1882 - 1940)
The set of maps was derived from the General Map of Central Europe 1:300 000 (Scheda-Karte) and covers the area between Corfu and St Petersburg and from Brussels to Kiev. 54 sheets were published in multicolour print.
General Map of Central Europe 1:200 000 (1887 - 1973)
This set of maps was published in 265 sheets in multicolour print. One map sheet covers one complete degree square with eight sheets of the special map 1:75 000. The first sheets were published in 1887.
Maps of different areas and surroundings from all over the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in various scales
E.g. Surroundings of Vienna 1880, scale 1:25 000, 40 sheets, 24 of them in multicolour print.
Historical Atlas of the Austrian Alpine Provinces
This atlas consists of seven thematic map sheets and reflects the ecclesiastical structure of the Austrian Provinces. The thematic maps include explanatory texts. Format: 54 cm x 45,5 cm, paperback, with accompanying text.
Historical Maps Legend
The historical maps legend is a graphic and textual explanation of the cartographic symbols, which are used in the format of the respective maps.
Austrian Map 1:25 000 (1923-1959)
The first sheet of the Austrian Map 1:25 000 was published in multicolour print in 1923. A third of Austria′s territory had been covered until this series of maps was stopped in 1959.
Provisional Edition of the Austrian Map 1:50 000 (1945 - 1970)
Since only 18 map sheets of the Austrian Map 1:50 000 had been published between 1924 and 1938, the missing sheets were produced from 1945 onwards by enlarging the Special Map from 1:75 000 to 1:50 000, it was edited with green forest cover.
Austrian Map 1:50 000-BMN
Over the years, the Provisional Edition of the Austrian Map 1:50 000 (1945 - 1970) was replaced by the Austrian Map 1:50 000-BMN, which then was the Austrian Topographic Basic Map up to the introduction of the ÖK50-UTM. The Austrian territory was covered by 213 sheets. The last update of individual sheets was made in 1999. The 1:50 000-BMN is no longer updated, it was replaced by the ÖK50-UTM.
Austrian Map 1:50 000-UTM
The ÖK50-UTM was originally published in different formats that had different content and were adjusted to different purposes. As of 2008 the new editions of the maps were just editions with roads and trail marks. Since the beginning of 2016 the whole Austrian territory has been covered by the version "roads and trail marks". Since 2011 the ÖK50-UTM has had a new layout and additional featured military relevant contents, such as military training areas, restricted zones, hospitals and pharmacies. One very important feature is the up to the edge in the North and East as well as the overlapping to the respective neighbouring map sheets.
Austrian Map 1:25 000V-BMN
The Austrian Map 1:25 000V-BMN is the enlarged edition ("V") of the Austrian Map 1:50 000-BMN. In order to provide a user friendly format, the northern part was printed on the face and the southern part on the back of the sheet, including an overlap. The last update of individual sheets was made in 1999. The ÖK25V-BMN was replaced by the ÖK25V-UTM.
Austrian Map 1:25 000V-UTM
Up to 2008 the ÖK25V-UTM was published as edition with trail marks. Since the end of 2008 the ÖK25V-UTM has been published as edition with roads and trail marks. Since the beginning of 2016 the whole Austrian territory has been covered by the version "roads and trail marks". Since 2011 the ÖK25V-UTM has a new layout and additional featured military relevant contents, such as military training areas, restricted zones, hospitals and pharmacies. One very important feature is the bleeding edge in the North and East as well as the overlapping to the respective neighbouring map sheets.
Austrian Map 1:200 000-BMN (1961 - 1999)
The Austrian Map 1:200 000-BMN replaced the General Map of Central Europe regarding the territory of Austria. The map series consists of 23 sheets and was derived from the Austrian Map 1:50 000. The cartographic design also follows the ÖK50-BMN. The last update of individual sheets was made in 1999. The ÖK200-BMN was replaced by the Bundesländerkarte (maps of the provinces) in the scale 1:200 000 (ÖK200-BLK).
Due to the transformation into the scale 1:250 000 and the subsequent new sheet layout the Bundesländerkarte 1:200 000 was substituted by the Austrian Map 1:250 000 in 2011.
As an example for many historical maps, on www.bev.gv.at every month a selected "Historical Map of the Month" is presented.
Application Possibilities
The historical topographic maps of various years of production are valuable witnesses of history and important cultural assets. They are suitable for various applications:
- As a source for historical and local research
- As a historic document of scenic and industrial developments
- As a basis for regional and settlement geographic research
- For scientific studies
- As a guide to research family history
- For tourism
- As a decorative work of art due to its elaborate artistic design
Form of Edition
As far as available, complete map sheets of historical series of maps are sold in the original edition.
Scans of historical maps are available digitally as raster file without (PDF format) or with georeferencing (JPEG format).
|