Page "Cartography" Paragraph 21

Due to the sheer physical difficulties inherent in cartography, map-makers frequently lifted material from earlier works without giving credit to the original cartographer.

For example, one of the most famous early maps of North America is unofficially known as the " Beaver Map ", published in 1715 by Herman Moll.

This map is an exact reproduction of a 1698 work by Nicolas de Fer.

De Fer in turn had copied images that were first printed in books by Louis Hennepin, published in 1697, and François Du Creux, in 1664.

By the 18th century, map-makers started to give credit to the original engraver by printing the phrase " After original cartographer " on the work.