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Good Things Come in Small Sizes! This is certainly true when it comes to smaller maps. If you're new to collecting antique maps there are some big advantages to collecting small. There's no problem with wanting to display your collection. If you have limited space at home this is not an issue. These small maps are easy to handle, store and affordable to mount and frame . . .
The above fascinating map details the states and Indian lands east of the Mississippi River from northern Florida to Canada. The map pre-dates Ohio and Mississippi Territory. Louisiana is shown, but the map would seem to predate Louisiana Territory. This nicely falls into the 'smaller' map category with an approx engraved area of 9" x 7.5" (230mm x 190mm) More info: STATES OF AMERICA
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Early on mapmakers quickly realised marketing was everything! Once the issue of scale had been addressed this was obviously going to result in some empty space appearing on the map in production. So like any good marketing push they set about filling such space with a variety of devices including cartouches, vignettes or insets . . .
Above: c1758 Jacques Nicolas Bellin. Continuation of Brazil drawn from Mr. Danville's America Map. Such devices, collectively grouped are referred to as ornamentation. Wise use of the available space on a map was used to capture attention and convey the message - There's nothing new under the Sun! So what would a map cartouche contain? . . . Find out more. click the link CARTOUCHE IN CARTOGRAPHY.
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Most antique maps were originally bound into books and atlases. A centerfold down the middle made this possible and the map was folded ready to be inserted and bound. So when you look at a map as in the example here the front of the map is often referred to as the 'recto' from the latin (Leaf), the front side of a leaf. The reverse or back of the page is known as the 'verso'. Thats it in map trade talk 'recto' the front side of the sheet with the image on it and the back is called the 'verso'. Often the verso will have text printed on it but this is not always the case.
All the points discussed in the previous several posts can help you evaluate the antique map you're considering. As mentioned you want to look at whats on the paper, but even more importantly the paper itself. What does the paper itself tell you? Is it laid paper or wove? This will help clarify does the paper fit with the claimed age of the map. Download the free pdf Kick Start Guide COLLECTING ANTIQUE MAPS - More Tips for the Novice. This is for those who are new to collecting or even new to the idea of collecting maps. This will help you get to grips with what you really need to know first.
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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
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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.
Above: The Town of Inverness. Drawn on the Spot by I. Clark. c1824 Hand-coloured etching and aquatint. Clark is most famous for his engravings of Scottish towns and cities, admired both for the highly accurate attention to detail and the clarity and softness of aesthetics. The accuracy of the view has historical importance as it documents the radical changes being made to the landscape, a result of industrialisation, population growth and migration. More info: Town of Inverness
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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?
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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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This is certainly true when it comes to so called miniature maps. If you're new to collecting antique maps there are some big advantages to collecting small. There's no problem with wanting to display your collection. If you have limited space at home is not an issue. These small maps are easy to handle, store and affordable to mount and frame.
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 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
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Today we're plagued with online sites saturated with reproduction antique maps and prints. These reproductions are copies made by various modern methods. Price alone should indicate as to original or reproduction, but for those new to collecting its wise to do some basic research. This will be a great help in making the right call when it comes to buying.
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.
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A real help if you're new to antique map collecting is to get an understanding of what maps were printed on, yes, the paper! Getting an understanding of the history of paper making and how it relates to old maps is the real place to start.
You've likely heard the term 'laid paper' or seen it used by a map dealer in describing a map. All maps were printed on laid paper up until around the end of the 18th century. Your going to be ahead of the game if you know how to identify laid paper. I'll show you how . . . IDENTIFYING LAID PAPER
