Prussian Urmesstischblätter are original topographic survey maps produced starting in 1822 for the entire territory of Prussia. The maps were hand-drawn one-offs at a scale of 1:25,000 and were not published, serving as the basis for smaller-scale maps. The Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie provides these sheets, which mark the beginning of modern topographic cartography.
Use Cases
- Analyzing historical land use and settlement patterns based on the detailed topographic features.
- Studying the evolution of cartographic techniques based on the hand-drawn, single-copy production method.
- Georeferencing historical maps for comparison with modern geospatial data based on the precise 1:25,000 scale.
- Researching Prussian administrative and military geography based on the maps created for the Royal Prussian General Staff.
Strengths
- Hand-drawn original maps representing the first systematic topographic survey of Prussia.
- High-quality plot reproductions are available for some individual sheets, enhancing visual clarity.
- Production began in 1822, providing a consistent historical baseline for the region.
Limitations
- Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
- Last updated 1825-01-01 00:00:00; freshness should be verified.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Provenance
- Source
- Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie
- Collection Method
- Hand-drawn topographic surveys conducted by the Royal Prussian General Staff.
- Time Range
- Production began in 1822; specific sheet dated 1825.
- Freshness
- 1825-01-01 00:00:00
- Geography
- Prussia, specifically the Rheinsberg area (sheet 2843).