Maps and Graphics Collection

• Maps
  26.000 printed maps
  3.000 hand-drawn maps and plans (portfolio collection)
  900 war and manoeuvre maps
  650 city maps
• Drawings
  City and district maps
  Boundary maps
  Architectural designs of buildings, parks and gardens
• City views
  2.000 regional and worldwide views
• Portraits
  Five centuries of important personalities
  Aristocrats, politicians, actors and actresses
• Posters
  1915-1944 focus on political posters
  after 1945 graphic posters from Southern Hesse as well

16th century
Landgrave George I started collecting maps, which are listed in the early library catalogues as single sheets (80-100 sheets).

18th century
Louis IX (the “soldier landgrave”) was mainly interested in war maps, fortress plans and other plans for military use. The collection grew.

19th century
The following generations of landgraves continued to add to the collection. In 1865, the library's map holdings contained around 12,.000 sheets.

20th century
Incorporating the maps in the former cabinet library and the valuable library of Baron von Closen-Günderrode provided further valuable growth.

21st century
The Georeferencing project demonstrates how historical and current maps merge, and provides a new perspective on geographical changes.