diff --git a/shapefil.h b/shapefil.h
index cccd7ac..2328f15 100644
--- a/shapefil.h
+++ b/shapefil.h
@@ -27,6 +27,23 @@ extern "C"
 {
 #endif
 
+/************************************************************************/
+/*           Version related macros (added in 1.6.0)                    */
+/************************************************************************/
+
+#define SHAPELIB_VERSION_MAJOR 1
+#define SHAPELIB_VERSION_MINOR 6
+#define SHAPELIB_VERSION_MICRO 0
+
+#define SHAPELIB_MAKE_VERSION_NUMBER(major, minor, micro) \
+    ((major) * 10000 + (minor) * 100 + (micro))
+
+#define SHAPELIB_VERSION_NUMBER \
+    SHAPELIB_MAKE_VERSION_NUMBER(SHAPELIB_VERSION_MAJOR, SHAPELIB_VERSION_MINOR, SHAPELIB_VERSION_MICRO)
+
+#define SHAPELIB_AT_LEAST(major, minor, micro) \
+    (SHAPELIB_VERSION_NUMBER >= SHAPELIB_MAKE_VERSION_NUMBER(major, minor, micro))
+
 /************************************************************************/
 /*                        Configuration options.                        */
 /************************************************************************/