Production of the Prussian Urmesstischblatt began in 1822 for the entire territory of Prussia. These hand-drawn unique pieces were created 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 historical map sheets, which mark the beginning of topographic cartography.
Use Cases
- Analyze historical land use and settlement patterns based on the detailed topographic features.
- Study the evolution of cartographic design and techniques from the described hand-drawn originals.
- Georeference historical maps for comparison with modern spatial data based on the 1:25,000 scale.
- Research the administrative and military history of Prussia using the foundational maps created for the Royal Prussian General Staff.
Strengths
- Hand-drawn unique pieces at a detailed 1:25,000 scale.
- Represents the foundational basis for topographic cartography as described.
- Some individual sheets have been reworked to be more similar to the original color scheme.
Limitations
- Last updated 1846-01-01 00:00:00; freshness should be verified.
- Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
- Row count and file formats are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Provenance
- Source
- Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie
- Collection Method
- Hand-drawn map sheets produced as part of topographic works for the Royal Prussian General Staff.
- Time Range
- Production began in 1822.
- Geography
- Entire territory of Prussia.