Courtesy of AbeBooks bookseller The Prime Meridian, specialist in antiquarian maps and related books.

aps: The fascination with old paper is not confined to books, but crosses into many areas of collecting--including the world of geography. These pieces of paper are much more than a guide to get from place to place. They can trace the history of artistic endeavor, printing techniques, paper use, military conquest, scientific development, geopolitical trends, the heavens, and more. These are maps of and by the imagination. They are the product of a collective activity, not just the single engraver, cartographer or geographer.

It is true that the most vintage of these old maps--those colorful world images from the Age of Discovery, and those unique and scarce manuscript charts that predate the time of the printing press--are beyond the financial reach of most enthusiasts. There are, however, many decorative, intellectually intriguing maps and related books (atlases, etc.) to be had at much more modest prices.

The history of maps is inextricably tied to the history of nations and power. The history of maps is equally tied to the history of art. Abraham Ortelius, the great Flemish publisher of the first major geographical atlas, was himself trained as a map colorist, and a member of contemporary artistic guilds.

This map shows the North American region, which was colonised by the Dutch. Besides Nieu-Amsterdam [New York], Fort Orange [Albany], Marilius Rivier [de Hudson] and Nieu Plymouth [Plymouth] are shown. Settlements of the Indians such as Manatthans near New York, the Morhicans, the Pequetoos and the Nahicans are indicated on the map. This map was based, amongst others, on a manuscript map by Adriaen Blockx, a Dutch trader in furs. What makes this map so interesting is the fact that is the first printed map of North America on which beavers, turkeys and Indians in a canoe are shown. £2,529.76

Wall Map Africa

Recommended by Andropov, Netherlands

This interesting and impressive wall map of Africa was most probably published in celebration of the delivery of a new steamship. Philip, Son Nephew, published the wall map for Elder Dempster & Company, Limited. Elder Dempster & Company was founded in 1852 and transported mail from London, through Plymouth, to Madeira, Tenerife and West Africa. In the bottom left corner the steamship Falaba is shown. The Falaba was the first passenger ship to be destroyed in WW I. £860.12

Amsterdam 1661 This very decorative, hand-colored (early) celestial image measures 17x20 inches. These northern hemispheric constellations were reconfigured as figures from the New Testament (Cassiopeia renamed Mary Magdalen, Hercules as the three magi, etc., with many of the saints appearing). Cellarius republished these Schiller planispheres in his own atlas, and they are among the most decorative around, along with being increasingly difficult to find. Overall very good; an artistically striking plate. It is increasingly difficult to find these early Cellarius issues. £4,500.00

A General Map of Ireland to Accompany the Report of the Railway Commissioners Showing the Principal Physical Features and Geological Structure of the Country. Constructed in 1836..Revised..Improved in 1855
Richard Griffith (Sir Richard John)
Recommended by The Prime Meridian, Danville, VA

This is a magnificent 4 sheet, 90 panel linen backed map of Ireland by Richard Griffith. This edition has been much improved over the earlier issue, and according to ABPC has not been seen at auction in over 20 years (a copy of an 1839 edition appeared at Sotheby's in 1997). Griffith's signature appears in the title section. Griffith was a child prodigy and was unanimously elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh at 23 years of age. In 1827 he started the valuations of Ireland, a major reference source for any genealogist studying the period. It has been stated that from 1830 until his death, that Griffith was consulted on nearly every work of major importance to the country. The Library of Congress only lists a copy of the 1839 edition. There are 2 copies of the 1855 edition listed on COPAC. £1,552.07