Whimsical Antique Maps

Old maps always fascinate me. They're snapshots of past eras, and a key to how people saw the world and what they thought of foreign lands. These whimsical maps from Dark Roasted Blend show how countries were personified in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I think my favorite depiction is that of Russia. I'd heard of the "Russian Bear" before, but never the "Russian Octopus"! It makes sense, though, when you think of how Russia expanded into Eastern Europe and the Baltic in later years.

See more maps from Dark Roasted here!