MAP WORLD'S CATALOGUE OF ANTIQUE MAPS

THE FIRST CATALOGUE TO LIST ANTIQUE MAPS ACCORDING TO THEIR REGION, COUNTRY, STATE, COUNTY ETC, FROM THE YEAR 1472 TO 1850. MAPS ARE LISTED IN DATE ORDER.

THE FIRST CATALOGUE TO GIVE EVERY MAP'S CURRENT MARKET VALUE, FROM £50 TO £6MILLION, AND TO GIVE EACH MAP A REFERENCE NO.

This unique catalogue enables you to see at a glance how many antique maps of specific parts of the world exist and their comparative values. Map makers, titles and sizes of maps, some images and other basic information are included. 

The current prices of antique maps in this catalogue reflect their historical importance, edition, rarity, beauty, recent economic trends and other factors. However, because antique maps were printed, condition distinguishes between otherwise identical maps. The current price of an antique map in Map World's Catalogue of Antique Maps refers to a map in fine condition, which means it has not been damaged (except for very minor blemishes), it has not been restored in any way or cleaned and the printed impression is ‘fine’. Each of these factors affects the desirability of an antique map and therefore its financial value. And so does the aesthetic enhancement to a map that colouring may provide. So fine is not at the top of the scale, although it is better than very good. All queries are welcome.

Antique maps that have not been selected for this catalogue include astronomical maps, diagrammatic route maps, maps of parts of counties, states or cities, different editions of the same map (unless they are especially important), maps of proposed developments, globe gores, puzzle maps, Ptolemaic maps printed after the year 1570 and maps of such rarity that none are known to exist in private hands. Topographical views are not included unless they give ‘birds eye’ information about a whole city. If we have missed something, we will be delighted to include it in our next edition if sufficient information is supplied.

Subscribe to Map World’s Catalogue of Antique Maps 2010 on CD at a special pre-publication price of only £45 incl. postage (to be published about the end of March 2010) and keep up to date with antique map price trends.  Go to the PayPal button at the bottom of this page. Or receive this CD free of charge, but only one per subscriber if you purchase any antique map(s) from this website.

Map World’s Catalogue of Antique Maps is copyright in favour of Map World and is offered for sale subject to the following conditions: that its contents shall not be copied, distributed, sold or used for commercial purposes in any way.  

ANTIQUE MAPS - A HISTORICAL PRICE PERSPECTIVE

Today it is reckoned by researchers that about 80 per cent of all antique maps have been destroyed over the years, through fire, flood and obsolescence.Furthermore, more than 60 per cent of maps that have survived are in public collections, and this percentage continues to grow, mainly because universities all over the world are seeking to enhance their antique map collections.

What perhaps strikes one the most if one looks at dealer catalogues for antique maps over the past sixty years is the dramatic decline in supply. This has consequently pushed up prices in inverse proportion, with few years that have been flat - unlike the art market, which suffers as much as the stockmarket from time to time.

Unlike other antique collecting fields it is easy to compare prices of antique maps because multiple copies of any given map almost always exist. One of the most popular English map makers today with collectors is John Speed (1542-1629), whose Atlas of the World contains 96 maps, and which went through several editions between 1627 and 1676. Not only is this atlas popular, but also individual maps from the atlas.

The table below shows a few auction prices (excluding buyer’s premium) for the complete atlas, in fine condition, between the years 1946 and 2001. Also shown are retail prices of John Speed’s world map, which comes from the same atlas and is the most valuable single map by John Speed. (It is the first map of the world to show California depicted as an island, a mistake that was copied by other map makers for the next hundred years.)

As can be seen, the retail value of the world map (and all other antique maps) is increasing at a faster rate than the atlas as a whole. For example, in 1946, the world map was 5 per cent of the price of the total atlas, whereas today it is more than 15 per cent. This trend indicates that the investment potential of atlases in general is underpinned by an increasing demand for individual antique maps.

Why is this happening? Partly because the economic status of many countries throughout the world is improving, so triggering an increasing demand for antique maps of these countries, not only from private collectors but also from institutions. The future therefore looks especially bright for antique maps.

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