I also work with scanning large old (and new) maps as a part of my job. If the maps can at all be handled you will save GREAT deals of time if you can beg, borrow, or lease a wide format scanner. As others have recommended, check with universities, museums, and local government agencies to see if you can get time with one. Setting up and photographing/scanning small portions of hundreds of maps is going to be a lot of work, never mind stitching all those pieces together.
We have a variety of 19th and early twentieth century hand-drawn maps on paper and linen; as another poster recommended, create a cover slip by purchasing a long piece of clear acetate (costs us around $45USD for a 1 x 2.5 meter sheet) and folding it in half. We don't find it necessary to tape edges. This will protect any frayed or torn edges, as well as providing some structural support and protection from the rollers. We use a CCD type wide format scanner and don't seem to have any problems with reflection from the acetate.
If the maps are too fragile for that process, or too large for available scanners, I think your best bet is to find a museum, art gallery, or other historical society with a good setup for photographic reproduction and beg their help. If they are that delicate I certainly would not ship them anywhere.
Good luck with georeferencing - I've only looked into this a little but for now I can't consider any non-automated solutions due to the sheer number of maps I have as well as my very finite budget.
Slashdot Mirror
I also work with scanning large old (and new) maps as a part of my job. If the maps can at all be handled you will save GREAT deals of time if you can beg, borrow, or lease a wide format scanner. As others have recommended, check with universities, museums, and local government agencies to see if you can get time with one. Setting up and photographing/scanning small portions of hundreds of maps is going to be a lot of work, never mind stitching all those pieces together.
We have a variety of 19th and early twentieth century hand-drawn maps on paper and linen; as another poster recommended, create a cover slip by purchasing a long piece of clear acetate (costs us around $45USD for a 1 x 2.5 meter sheet) and folding it in half. We don't find it necessary to tape edges. This will protect any frayed or torn edges, as well as providing some structural support and protection from the rollers. We use a CCD type wide format scanner and don't seem to have any problems with reflection from the acetate.
If the maps are too fragile for that process, or too large for available scanners, I think your best bet is to find a museum, art gallery, or other historical society with a good setup for photographic reproduction and beg their help. If they are that delicate I certainly would not ship them anywhere.
Good luck with georeferencing - I've only looked into this a little but for now I can't consider any non-automated solutions due to the sheer number of maps I have as well as my very finite budget.