ArtDaily PhotoGalleries

Through over 100 items the exhibition examines how maps have played a role in preserving secrets for the benefit of their creators from the 14th century to the present day, from the hand-drawn opulent naval charts gifted to Henry VIII, to maps of cable networks used to intercept messages between the world wars; and the satellite tracking technology used by apps in our everyday lives

Part of a 1648 world map containing previously confidential Dutch coastal data of Australia. The map was presented to Charles II of England (Maps K.A.R.1,2). Joan Blaeu, world map, 1648 (Maps K.A.R.1,2) © British Library Board

A fictional treasure map from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. (C.71.c.18). Map from Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1883 © British Library Board.

A 1770 map of the northern and western North America, reflecting the relative lack of European knowledge of this area (Maps K.Top 119.7.2). Map of the northern parts of America, 1770 © British Library Board

A map of Northumberland from an 1570s atlas created for Elizabeth I’s minister Lord Burghley - The Saxton-Burghley Atlas (Royal MS 18.D.III). The Saxton-Burghley Atlas, 1570s © British Library Board.

A classified map made for Moscow taxi drivers, most likely to prepare for the influx of foreign visitors during the 1980 Olympics. Shows areas forbidden to foreigners (Maps CC.5.d.90.). Plan of the Travel Regime for Foreigners in Moscow, 1980 © British Library Board

A map from 1949 showing impact of a potential atomic and high explosive attack on London. (Maps MOD GSGS Misc 344/1). Assumed Distribution of Attack (Atomic and High Explosive) on London, 1949 © British Library Board.

A coloured sketch map created by Lawrence of Arabia showing his journey from the Red Sea coast to the Hejaz Railway, after coordinating a sabotage mission on the railway (WOMAT/RAS/ARA/29). Lawrence of Arabia Spy Map, 1917 © British Library

A page from an atlas created by John Rotz, a Franco-Scottish mapmaker and secret agent, in around 1542. (The Boke of Idrography f.19-f.20). The Boke of Idrography, 16th century © British Library Board.

A 1457 map of Scotland, drawn by English chronicler John Hardyng (Map of Scotland, from Hardyng’s Chronicle Lansdowne (MS 204, ff.226 - 227). Map of Scotland, from Hardyng’s Chronicle Lansdowne, 1457 © British Library Board.

A banned map of Japan’s Izu and Ogasawara Islands, censored for revealing their strategic importance (Maps 149.e.2.(22.)) Revised and enlarged map of the Izu Seven Islands. Maps, mid-19th century © British Library Board.

A bombing target map of central London for use by Luftwaffe (Maps CC.5.a.555.) London, Neues Luftfahrtministerium, 1940 © British Library Board.

A secret British World War I trench map map depicting a section of the Somme that was attacked on 1 July 1916. (Maps C.14.h. Sheet 57D NE) Trench Map, 1916 © British Library Board

A panorama of England’s south coast from Land’s End to Exeter, made for Henry VIII in 1539 or 1540 as part of defence preparations for a threatened French and Spanish invasion. Cotton MS Augustus I.ii.35-6, 38-9). Long View of the south coast, 1539/40 © British Library Board

A chart of the western Indian Ocean, from an atlas commissioned by English Queen Mary I as a gift for her husband Philip II of Spain. (Add Ms 5415 A ff.15-16) Queen Mary Atlas,1558 © British Library Board

World map from Liber Secretorum also known as the ‘Book of secrets for faithful crusaders on the recovery and retention of the Holy Land’, produced by Venetian patrician Marino Sanudo. Liber Secretorum, 1320-1325 © British Library Board.

A world chart of 1547, produced for the French King Henri II, that illustrates a southern landmass with an eastern coastline that recalls the shape of eastern Australia. The Dauphin World Map,around 1547 © British Library Board.

A map of North America used by British diplomats at the negotiations which followed the end of the American War of Independence in 1783. (K.Top 118.49.b.) The Red Lined Map, 1783 © British Library Board.

A copied French fortification plan of Cremona, Northern Italy from 1682. When utilised in a war situation in 1701 the map was revealed to be hopelessly inaccurate. (Add Ms 64109). Louvois Atlas, 1658-1688 © British Library Board

A secret map reveals a global network of censorship stations (underlined in purple) these government facilities were used to intercept messages sent via submarine and overland cables.(Maps MOD 1849A) Secret Radio & Cable Map of the World, 1927 © British Library Board

[Detail of map 24 above, showing Europe] Secret Radio & Cable Map of the World, 1927 © British Library Board.

The titlepage of Sir Robert Dudley’s Dell’ Arcano del Mare or ‘Secrets of the Sea’, a compendium of maritime knowledge which included a sea atlas, first published in Florence in 1646-7. Titlepage of Arcano del Mare or ‘Secrets of the Sea’ by Sir Robert Dudley, 1646-7 © British Library Board

Robert Dudley’s sea chart of the mouth of the Orinoco River in South America, made in 1646-7. Chart of the Orinoco River estuary, 1646-7 © British Library Board

John Cheape’s military survey of Chittagong (part of modern-day Bangladesh), 1815-16. The map was hand drawn rather than printed so that circulation of the map could be controlled by the East India Company. Map of Chittagong province, modern-day Bangladesh, 1815-16 © British Library Board

A hand drawn sketch of the sea route into the Zuider Zee, made in autumn 1539 for Henry VIII. Sketch chart of the Zuider Zee, the Netherlands, 1539 © British Library Board.

Chart of the North Sea and the English Channel, 1539 (Cotton Augustus I.ii.64). Chart of the North Sea and the English Channel, 1539 © British Library Board

Secret Decca radio navigation chart made for mine clearance before D-Day (Maps Fleet AC L.F.1016). Decca radio navigation chart, 1944 © British Library Board

Letter of August 1681 from Lord Preston in Paris to Charles II, offering to send the king secret maps of French fortifications that he had obtained. Preston papers, letter © British Library Board

Secret plan of London, produced for the General Strike of 1926, that details vulnerable military installations, police posts and fire stations. Produced by the Ordnance Survey for the War Office, later transferred to the British Library from the Ministry of Defence. Secret plan of London, 1926 © British Library Board

Close-up of the map of Europe, from the Rotz Atlas,1542 on display in Secret Maps exhibition at the British Library. Photography by Justine Trickett © The British Library Board.

Liber Secretorum, 1320-1325 on display in Secret Maps exhibition at the British Library. Photography by Justine Trickett © The British Library Board.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson,1883 on display in Secret Maps exhibition at the British Library. Photography by Justine Trickett © The British Library Board

‘Cell Quilt’ on loan from Fine Cell Work, made by prisoners in Bullingdon Prison, 2015 on display in Secret Maps exhibition at the British Library. Photography by Justine Trickett © The British Library Board