Old Map of Persia & Arabia by Colton, 1857: Middle East, Persian Gulf, Zagros Mountains

Step into the intricate world of 19th-century cartography with "Persia Arabia &c.," a masterwork published in 1857 by the renowned Joseph Hutchins Colton. This exquisite map, produced in New York at the height of Colton’s career, captures the vast and enigmatic landscapes of the Middle East, stretching from the heart of Persia to the sweeping deserts of Arabia and the storied shores of the Persian Gulf. Colton’s signature decorative border and delicate pastel hues frame a region in flux, offering a rare glimpse into a time before the seismic geopolitical shifts that would redefine these lands in the decades to follow.

Joseph Hutchins Colton was celebrated for his meticulous attention to detail and artistry, and this map is a testament to his legacy. His maps were not merely navigational tools but cultural artifacts, designed to inform and inspire. Here, Colton renders the territories of the Ottoman Empire, Persia, Afghanistan, and Beloochistan with remarkable clarity, delineating both political boundaries and physical features. The map’s labeling of regions such as El Ahsa and El Hejer along the Gulf’s southern coast reflects the nomenclature and administrative realities of the era, just before the Ottoman expansion into eastern Arabia.

The map’s geographical detail is as compelling as its historical context. Mountain ranges like the rugged Zagros and Elburz are etched across Persia, while the vast deserts and coastal plains of Arabia are mapped with precision. The shimmering waters of the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea define the region’s maritime borders, dotted with evocative features such as the Great Pearl Bank, Goodwin’s Island, and Dahnyi Island. These natural phenomena were of immense economic and cultural importance, especially as the Gulf’s pearling industry flourished in the 19th century.

Cities and towns are meticulously plotted, many bearing names that echo through history and resonate in the modern world. From the bustling metropolis of Tehran and the storied streets of Baghdad to the emerging settlements of Dibbah (Dubai), Abothubbee (Abu Dhabi), and Sharjas Tower (Sharjah), the map charts the rise of urban centers that would later become global hubs. In the Gulf, places like Zabarah, El Katif, and Bahrein are highlighted, while ancient trade cities such as Muscat, Sana, and Mocha anchor the Arabian Peninsula’s southern reaches.

What sets this map apart is its ability to capture a pivotal moment in the region’s history—a crossroads of empire, commerce, and culture. It preserves the memory of a landscape before the modern nation-state, where borders were porous, and identities were shaped by geography as much as by politics. For collectors and connoisseurs, "Persia Arabia &c." is not only a visually stunning artifact but also a window into the dynamic interplay of land, sea, and society that has defined the Middle East for centuries.

Cities and towns on this map

• United Arab Emirates (modern-day):
• Dibbah (Dubai)
• Abothubbee (Abu Dhabi)
• Sharjas Tower (Sharjah)
• Ras al Khyme (Ras Al Khaimah)
• Saudi Arabia (modern-day):
• El Katif (Al Qatif)
• El Ahsa (Al-Hasa/Al-Ahsa)
• Duat (likely Dawhat, near Qatar)
• El Hejer (Al-Hijr/Mada'in Salih)
• Qatar (modern-day):
• Zabarah (Al Zubarah)
• Ras Aufir (likely Ras Laffan or similar)
• Bahrain (modern-day):
• Bahrein (Bahrain)
• Iran (Persia):
• Teheran (Tehran)
• Ispahan (Isfahan)
• Shiraz
• Tabriz
• Mashad (Mashhad)
• Yezd (Yazd)
• Kerman
• Bushire (Bushehr)
• Resht (Rasht)
• Hamadan
• Iraq (Ottoman Empire at the time):
• Bagdad (Baghdad)
• Bassora (Basra)
• Mosul
• Kerbela (Karbala)
• Hillah
• Afghanistan:
• Herat
• Kandahar
• Kabul
• Balkh
• Pakistan (Beloochistan):
• Kelat (Kalat)
• Quetta
• Oman:
• Muscat
• Yemen:
• Sana (Sana'a)
• Mocha

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Persian Gulf (labelled as such)
• Gulf of Oman
• Arabian Sea
• Red Sea
• Caspian Sea (partially visible at the top)
• Outlines of major empires and regions: Ottoman Empire, Persia, Afghanistan, Beloochistan
• Provincial and regional boundaries within these larger entities
• Zagros Mountains (in Persia/Iran)
• Elburz Mountains (north of Persia/Iran)
• Other mountain ranges in Afghanistan and along the Arabian Peninsula
• Bahrain (Bahrein)
• Goodwin's Island
• Dahnyi Island
• The Great Pearl Bank (labelled in the Gulf near Bahrain/Qatar)
• Decorative border typical of Colton’s style

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Persia Arabia &c.
• Mapmaker/publisher: Joseph Hutchins Colton, a prominent 19th-century American mapmaker known for his detailed and decorative maps, published in New York.
• Date of creation: 1857.
• The map centers on the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, and also includes the Ottoman Empire, Persia (modern-day Iran), Afghanistan, Beloochistan (Balochistan), and adjacent regions.
• The map is both a political and physical map, showing borders, provinces, and physical features such as mountain ranges and bodies of water.
• The map predates the Al-Hasa Expedition of 1871, which led to the Ottoman Empire extending its influence over the eastern Arabian Peninsula (El Ahsa/El Hejer region).
• The southern coast of the Gulf is labeled as El Ahsa or El Hejer, reflecting period nomenclature before Ottoman administrative changes.
• Early forms of names for present-day UAE emirates, such as Sharjas Tower (Sharjah), Dibbah (Dubai), Abothubbee (Abu Dhabi), and Ras al Khyme (Ras Al Khaimah), are shown.
• Near Qatar and Bahrain, features such as Ras Aufir, Zabarah, El Katif, Duat, the Great Pearl Bank, Goodwin's Island, and Dahnyi Island are shown.
• The map provides a snapshot of political and geographical knowledge of the region in the mid-19th century, before major geopolitical changes such as the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into eastern Arabia.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.