Antique map of Argentina, 1882

Francisco Latinza and Alberto Larsch’s Mapa Geográfico de la República Argentina, published in Buenos Aires in 1882, is an important nineteenth-century map documenting Argentina during a crucial period of territorial expansion, political consolidation, and economic development. Compiled “on the basis of the most recent data,” the map reflects the geographical knowledge available during the formative years of the modern Argentine Republic.

The map presents the extensive territory of Argentina, extending from the subtropical northern provinces to the remote landscapes of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. It records provincial boundaries, major cities and settlements, rivers, mountain ranges, roads, and other geographical features, providing a detailed overview of the country's rapidly developing territorial organization.

Its 1882 date is particularly significant. Argentina was undergoing major political and territorial changes following the federalization of Buenos Aires in 1880, which established the city as the national capital. At the same time, the government was extending effective control over territories beyond the established agricultural provinces. The map therefore provides a valuable snapshot of Argentina at the beginning of a period of intensive state-building and territorial integration.

The representation of Patagonia and the southern frontier is especially interesting in the context of contemporary cartography. During this period, geographical knowledge of the southern interior was expanding rapidly as military expeditions, scientific surveys, and settlement advanced into previously less-mapped regions. The map consequently reflects both established geography and the evolving understanding of Argentina's vast territory.

Argentina's developing transportation and economic infrastructure is another important aspect. Railways, roads, waterways, and major settlements illustrate the growing connections between Buenos Aires, the agricultural interior, and provincial centers. These networks were becoming increasingly important as Argentina expanded its agricultural exports and strengthened its commercial links with Europe and the wider Atlantic world.

For collectors of Argentine maps, South American cartography, colonial and post-colonial history, and nineteenth-century geography, this 1882 map is a particularly attractive historical document. It captures Argentina at a decisive moment, when the country's territorial structure, transportation networks, and political geography were being rapidly transformed.