Taiwan

Antique Maps of Taiwan (Formosa)

Antique maps of Taiwan—often labelled Formosa on earlier European works—trace a long history of maritime contact, regional trade and geopolitical interest. Early maps frequently place Taiwan within wider East Asia or China Sea contexts, reflecting navigation routes and the priorities of coastal reconnaissance.

Major European publishers such as Blaeu and Hondius helped circulate early depictions, while later French and British cartographers and hydrographers improved coastal accuracy as surveying expanded. Over time, maps increasingly show internal geography, settlements and administrative divisions, reflecting the island’s growing strategic and commercial significance.

Collectors value Taiwan maps for their blend of maritime history and regional context, as well as their place-name evolution and the changing cartographic portrayal of the island across the 16th to 20th centuries.