Ancient maps from the Toronto Public Library’s collection are in the spotlight.

The Art of Cartography features some 50 items – from atlases to sea charts and celestial depictions – showcasing what the library describes as the “unexpected beauty” of maps – dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
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Some of the oldest items portray a considerable amount of fantasy – like the 1613 depiction of the North Pole by the renowned cartographer Gerhard Mercator – which shows a black rock at the top of the globe, surrounded by a whirlpool and river rapids.A 1592 map of Iceland reveals a variety of strange sea monsters – frolicking in the waves around the island.

The exhibition is at the downtown Toronto Reference Library until October 13th.