A new book charting the history of the island through maps has arrived on the shelves.

Bermuda Maps details scores of maps from early hand-drawn representations and decorative printed maps from the 1600s to more detailed modern renditions from the 1930s.

The National Museum book is the product of author Jonathan Land Evans’s lifetime of collecting and analysing various depictions of the island.

Museum staff have also scoured libraries and archives across the world to source hundreds of rare images of old and new maps reproduced in the book.

The book, which was edited, designed and produced by Brimstone Media, includes a detailed analysis of the maps’ content, presentation and historical context.

A statement by the National Museum said: “Of particular interest is how depictions of Bermuda changed with the centuries, and with the island’s importance — first as a remote navigational location, through its emergence as a thriving British colony to strategic importance as a naval defence hub for the Americas.

“Many Bermuda maps were kept under strict secrecy in such times. In sharp contrast, whimsical Bermuda maps became prevalent as the age of tourism overtook the island’s fortunes.”

An exhibit showcasing a selection of maps from the National Museum’s Nancy & Brian Dupperreault collection will be on display at the Chubb Building in Hamilton until the end of the year.

The gallery is open on weekdays between 10am and 4pm.