Abbreviations on antique maps & prints: who-did-what, and how to tell

Artists, Engravers, Printers & Publishers: decoding  Abbreviations on Antique Maps and Prints

Spend time with enough antique maps and prints, and you’ll notice a pattern of small, cryptic abbreviations - usually in Latin, sometimes in French - tucked in the margins or beneath the image. These subtle inscriptions hold important clues about the individuals behind the work—the artist who drew it, the engraver who cut the plate, the printer who issued it, and more.

Understanding these abbreviations helps you appreciate the division of labour involved in early map and print production—and help in dating or attributing a work. This guide decodes the most common terms. Where names are printed below the image with no further indication of their respective roles, it is conventional that the name on the left is the original artist, and that on the right is the engraver or craftsman who converted it into a printed or printable image.

Common Abbreviations and What They Mean

Here are the key abbreviations you're likely to encounter, along with their Latin origins and meanings:

How to Read an Example

A typical set of credits under a map or print might read:

"I. Smith del. – A. Jones sc."
(Drawn by I. Smith – Engraved by A. Jones)

Or a more elaborate attribution:

"C. Dupuis pinx. – L. Robert sculpsit – Paris, excudit"
(Painted by Dupuis – Engraved by Robert – Published in Paris)

Or, in full Latin:

"G. Braun delineavit, F. Hogenberg sculpsit, Coloniae, cum privilegio"
(Drawn by Braun, engraved by Hogenberg, Cologne, with royal privilege)

Other Useful Latin Terms You May Encounter

• Apud – At the house/shop of (refers to the location of the publisher or seller).

• In lucem edidit – Brought to light (an elevated way of saying "published").

• Typis – Printed by (used with a printer’s name).

• A Paris, Romae, Londini, etc. – City of publication (Paris, Rome, London, etc.).

Why These Abbreviations Matter

These small Latin clues tell us about the collaborative craftsmanship behind a map or print. In the pre-modern era, making a printed image often involved:

• A draughtsman or painter (who created the original image),

• An engraver or etcher (who translated it to a printing plate),

• A printer (who struck the impressions),

• And a publisher (who distributed the final product).

Understanding who did what helps you:

• Identify artists or engravers of importance,

• Distinguish between different editions or states,

• Appreciate the skilled labour behind each piece.

In Summary

Next time you're inspecting an antique print or map, take a closer look at the fine text below the image. Those tiny Latin abbreviations—del., sculpsit, pinxit, excudit—are windows into the working relationships and creative processes of another era. For collectors, dealers, and historians alike, they offer valuable insight into the history and authenticity of a piece.