Should there be a crease down the middle? Well yes and no, it depends on the map.  To be fair if a person has no knowledge or experience of antique maps its unlikely they would be able to answer that question.  Most printed maps avaialble to collectors today are printed maps that were originally bound in books and atlases, hence a crease down the middle where the page was folded is very common, but not always the case. . . . 

Above: Part of a Map of England & Wales 'Anglia Regnum' Duisberg 1595 by Mercator.  Having got to grips with the paper itself, the next important step is to know what to be looking for on the paper itself. Identifying elements is what you're after. You can see the basic identifiers on a 16th century double page map here . . .  Map Identifiers 16th Century

Who doesn't enjoy the picturesque scenery of Scotland and the Scottish Highlands.  This view of the town of Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands, is from the "Views in Scotland" series published by Smith & Elder in 1824. It's generally accepted that these views are the work of the Scottish artist John Heaviside Clark who is thought to have been born in Scotland around 1771. He was a well-known engraver, landscape and seascape painter and miniaturist.  ​He worked and lived in London between 1802 and 1832. He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1812 and 1832 with a selection of maritime and landscape subjects.

More Tips for the Novice - Most newbie map collectors pitch their tent between 17th century and 19th century. This provides a wide range of possibilites for developing a collection however you may be interested in starting to collect pre 17th century maps!

Above: Map of Anglia c1578 a relief woodcut Map from Munsters Cosmographia.  The very earliest maps are referred to as Manuscript, drawn by hand. Most all early maps and navigational charts were manuscripts, often the work of explorers. From mid 15th century to late 16th century the earliest printed maps were produced using the Relief printing process . . . Where will you pitch your tent?

More Tips for the Novice - Just when you thought you had it all cracked with identifying the 'laid paper'! As we entered the first half of the 19th century a shift took place towards using paper produced on a new mold called 'wove'.  This technique quickly spread throughout Europe and America and soon dominated the paper making industry . . . Now you're looking for a different set of clues because the process has changed . . . You don't want to end up being a Turkey!  But can you identify Turkey Mill Paper?

Above: c1802 Map Sheet produced on 'wove' paper the result is a smoother regular surface that with laid paper. No chain or laid lines. Top Tip: Go to auctions, see antique maps, touch them, feel the paper, examine it, hold it up to the light, then you will start to see there is another world of exploration under the surface of the image - The all important paper! Identify Turkey Mill 

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Above: A Pair of Hemisphere Maps - Continent Septentrional & Meridional by Alain Mallet c1683.  
A favourite of mine is the work of Alain Manesson Mallet the French cartographer and engineer. He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV, became a Sergeant-Major in the artillery and an Inspector of Fortifications. He also served under the King of Portugal, before returning to France, and his appointment to the court of Louis XIV.  His five volume work Description de l'univers was originally published in Paris in 1683 and contained almost 700 small engravings of maps, charts, plans and views.
More info on this pair of Mallet's Hemisphere Maps

​A simple place to start if you're interested in maps made between c1600 to late c1700 is to get familier with the intaglio print process used in making such maps. Get to grips with the basics HERE.  (Above: From India Orientalis by Matthaus Seutter c1730 A scarce map of the East Indies and part of Australia, from the Atlas Novus.

What can the image  above tell you about the map?    Above: From India Orientalis by Matthaus Seutter. A scarce map of the East Indies and part of Australia, from the Atlas Novus. Often map dealers will simply use the most famous name associated with the map. So what exactly is an original?   Here's where to begin . . . THE BEGINNING!​