Cartographic Methods and Their Correctness on Maps in the Polish Press Since the mid–19th Century

On the background of the conditions of functioning of the Polish press since the mid–19th century, the paper describes cartographic and graphic methods used on press maps, with the emphasis on the quantitative methods of information presentation. The qualitative methods were mostly used in a proper way. The factors determining the level of press mapping were the skills of map makers and the limitations resulting from the letterpress printing technology. The application of computer technology and the shift to offset printing in the last decade of the 20th century overcame these obstacles. New possibilities of the creation of maps with richer content and more graphically effective emerged. Despite these new possibilities one still needs at least basic knowledge on cartographic methods and map graphics in order to be able to prepare the cartographically correct maps. The maps presented in this paper focus on the presentation of the most common mistakes, with less emphasis put on the cartographic methods and map graphics.