A Curious Cosmography — Map of the Square and Stationary Earth (1893)

Part sermon, part showpiece, Orlando Ferguson’s 1893 Map of the Square and Stationary Earth turns the world into a bravura diagram: continents arranged in a donut-like basin, a lamp-style sun and moon wheeling overhead, and dense marginal notes arguing a Bible-literalist, flat-earth cosmology. Issued as a polemical broadside and long obscure until a Library of Congress acquisition in 2011, it’s a rare, conversation-starting artifact of nineteenth-century belief—where typography, diagram, and persuasion collide on one unforgettable sheet.

More Than a Map – A Testament to History

This is not just wall art—it’s a window into how ideas travel. Every caption, vignette, and geometric flourish shows how Ferguson tried to reconcile scripture, optics (his “Columbus phenomenon”), and everyday observation in defiance of modern astronomy. Today it reads as pseudoscience, but as a cultural document it’s invaluable: a study in persuasion, print culture, and the contested boundaries of knowledge. Ideal for historians of science, educators, designers, collectors, and anyone who enjoys artifacts that spark debate as much as they delight the eye.

Display it in classrooms, studios, libraries, museums, offices, or your home to invite reflection, study, and conversation.

Premium Materials & Finishes

We treat history with the respect it deserves. That’s why we offer multiple formats, each produced using high-quality materials and modern archival printing.

🌟 Archival Paper Print
Printed on heavyweight 160gsm archival-grade paper.
Smooth matte finish reduces glare and preserves intricate labels, borders, and linework.
Ideal for framing under glass—clean, timeless, and built to last.

💎 Laminated Edition
Encapsulated in two sheets of 80-micron gloss laminate using true thermal bonding—not just surface lamination.
Moisture-resistant, wipe-clean surface—perfect for classrooms and high-traffic reference spaces.

Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered rails with a fitted hanging cord provide a polished, ready-to-hang presentation—no frame required. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)

🏆 Museum-Quality Canvas
Printed on heavyweight 395gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas for rich texture and exceptional strength.
Pigment-based, fade-resistant inks deliver deep tone and razor-sharp detail that endure for generations.

Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered to enhance the wood grain and protect against wear; top cord for effortless hanging—elegant in any setting. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)

Specifications

Why Choose This Map

✔ A Cultural Time Capsule: A rare, visually striking artifact of 19th-century fringe cosmology.
✔ Pedagogy & Provocation: Perfect for teaching critical thinking, print culture, and the history of science.
✔ Decorative & Scholarly: Strong presence across a room; richly rewarding at close study.
✔ Archival Craft: Premium substrates and inks preserve contrast, ornament, and dense typography for decades.
✔ Ready to Display: Optional hang-railed laminated or canvas editions provide a museum-quality presentation—no frame required.

Our Commitment

We believe that preserving history is as important as telling it. Every map is printed locally in Australia using state-of-the-art technology, carefully checked by hand, and packed with care. From the moment it leaves our workshop to the day it hangs on your wall, we ensure quality you can trust and a legacy you’ll be proud to share.

Bring a singular piece of scientific—and unscientific—heritage into focus. Order the Map of the Square and Stationary Earth (1893) today—a faithful, beautifully produced print that turns a room into a conversation.