The earliest map of the Lothians, from Scotland's first atlas, by Joan Blaeu (1654).
The maps derive principally from the original surveys of Timothy Pont (around 1583 to 1614), Scotland's first map-maker. The publication was the responsibility of Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam's leading map publisher in the 17th century. Through this atlas, Scotland became one of the best-mapped countries in the world.
The Atlas is open to show the earliest published regional map of the Lothians, with Edinburgh coloured in red in the centre.
The Lothians were agriculturally rich and densely settled. We can see a landscape packed with signs of human activity. A network of routeways radiates from Edinburgh.
The map was dedicated to William, Earl of Lothian, whose coat of arms are shown to the upper right.
[Library reference: EMW.X.015]
