Historical Maps of the Survey of India (1700-1900)

A collection of some 1400 antique manuscript maps out of the 7,949 maps catalogued by the National Archives of India in 1975.  These maps and many more, remnants of the early days of mapping in India, were stacked in large piles gathering dust at the Survey office in Calcutta in the early 1900's, until rescued and organized by  a Lieut. Fredk. Fraser Hunter, of the Indian Army.  At the suggestion of Col. R.H. Phillimore, made while writing his 5 volume series on the Historical Records of the Survey of India, all these maps were boxed up and shipped to the National Archives, New Delhi in 1954.  By 1975 the National Archives produced a mimeographed "Catalogue of the Historical Maps of the Survey of India (1700-1900)" edited by Dr. S.N. Prasad.  This catalogue, reproduced digitally as the first item in this list of files, serves as the only available guide to these maps.  The first section of the catalogue gives a brief description of each map, and a second Index section lists various geographical names and the maps that cover these areas or places.

Today the original copies of these maps can be seen at the National Archives of India, New Delhi.