Abstract
Consideration of cartographic materials as historical evidence on the history of Kazakhstan XVIII – early XX centuries relies primarily on a comprehensive source study analysis, which is impossible without knowledge of the conventional symbols of the «old maps» of the period. The conventional signs of cartographic materials of the XVIII – early XX centuries have their own history of development and improvement. Cartographic signs include all types of signatures. The set of conventional signs and explanations to the map is called a map legend. In order to effectively source the analysis of cartographic material, it is necessary to know all the symbols, the number of which was large and varied for each specific period of cartographic development. At the same time, quite often on the maps of a given period in the fields of maps, conventional symbols were not placed or there were no explanations of their meanings. This article provides the researchers of the «old maps» with comprehensive knowledge of the conventional signs of cartographic materials of the XVIII – early XX centuries without knowledge of which a qualified interpretation of sources of this type is impossible and this proves its relevance.