Bohdan Krawciw, a Ukrainian-born writer, translator and critic, amassed a map collection of some 900 items before his death in 1975. In November 2005, his daughter donated the collection to Harvard University; the University announced the acquisition this month: Harvard College Library; Harvard University Gazette.

Krawciw’s thoroughness in acquiring maps showing the Ukraine led to a unique and geographically broad collection that spans four centuries, from the 1550s to the 1940s. It includes numerous early maps of Europe, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia, the Crimea, and the Black Sea, and represents the major European mapmakers: Mercator, Hondius, Blaeu, Jansson, Pitt, DeWit, Sanson, L’Isle, and Seutter.

An exhibition of the Krawciw collection is planned for next spring. Via MapHist; see also Map the Universe.