Fantastische Karten - Exhibition Catalogue

This special publication delves into the history of fictional mapmaking and the themes fantastical cartography, spotlighting several of the iconic maps featured in the exhibition, Fantastical Maps | Fantastische Karten at the Zentralbibliothek (Central Library) Zürich.

The exhibition combines two outstanding cartographic collections: Ex Carta, one of the most comprehensive private collections of fictional cartography, and the collection of the Maps and Panoramas Department of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich, with its significant cartographic-historical heritage. 

This bound collection of essays offers readers an exciting guided tour, starting with the historical maps and landscape of Switzerland that inspired literary giants like Tolkien. It then moves into maps from internationally cherished fairy stories and fantasy tales, before exploring the realms of both digital and analogue game maps.

This special edition of the academic journal 'Cartographica Helvetica' was published to accompany the exhibition 'Fantastische Karten zu legendaeren Geschichten' ('Fantastical Maps from Legendary Stories'), at the Zentralbibliothek (Central Library) Zurich from 4 September - 5 December 2026. However, the book also stands on its own right as a collection of essays on fantasy maps and gaming.

Edited by Dr Jost Schmidt of the Zentralbibliothek, and Helen Sunderland-Cohen, founder of Ex Carta, this book contains specially commissioned texts on the following fascinating topics:

• Overview – Creating Worlds with Fantastical Maps by Jost Schmid and Helen Sunderland
• Fantastical Features on the Edge of a Fantastical World: Medieval Mappae Mundi and their Literary Origins by Asa S. Mittman and Jost Schmid
• From The City to Westeros – Maps from Fantastical Worlds and their Functions by Thomas Honegger 
• Features and Functions of Tolkien’s Maps in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by Marie Christin Kümmerling
• Collaborative Cartography in Dungeons & Dragons by Lisa Weigelt
• Maps and Geography in Seven Foundational Video Games by Eric de Broche des Combes

THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED IN GERMAN.

An English PDF version will be available in early 2027.

56 pages, 48 illustrations. Softback. ISSN 1422-3392.