| There is something inherently intriguing about ancient | | | | However, the greater majority of us simply want to |
| maps. As a child, most of us have played games | | | | buy a print of an old map to hang on a wall. We do |
| where we have imagined that we had found a map | | | | not want a map because of its financial value but |
| giving the location of hidden treasure. If only it were | | | | more because of its personal value. This type of print |
| true! This may be one of the reasons that many | | | | is far more easily obtainable and certainly more |
| people have a fascination for antique maps. The | | | | affordable. The most popular types of prints are |
| physical characteristics of the world may not have | | | | those of maps relating to a city, county or state that |
| changed remarkably since map making began, but the | | | | family ancestors originated from. These can usually |
| political aspects most certainly have. Imagine being in | | | | be found relatively easily and are on sale for a |
| possession of a pre-Columbus map that did not show | | | | reasonable price. Of course, the paper is not going to |
| the Americas correctly, now that would be a truly | | | | be ancient parchment or manuscript, but placed in a |
| priceless antique. The technology involved in | | | | good frame, they will certainly make conversation |
| mapmaking is constantly improving but there is still a | | | | pieces at your next dinner party. |
| desire to own some of the earliest examples of | | | | Auctions, both online and offline are fast becoming |
| cartography. | | | | the most popular place to find prints of specific maps. |
| Unfortunately, just as there are millions of people | | | | You may also find that there are antique maps for |
| who yearn to own a genuine antique map of | | | | sale if the owner has not sought advice on its |
| Columbus's expeditions or of the early astronomers' | | | | genuine value, but that is becoming less common. In |
| guides to the stars there are just as many, if not | | | | summary, you need to decide what price you are |
| more, people out to pass off a modern map as a | | | | prepared to pay for a map, whether it is an original |
| genuine artifact. You do need to be extremely | | | | or a print. There is nearly always an option available |
| careful about researching the authenticity and | | | | to suit any budget to enable you to have an |
| provenance of these allegedly antique maps. This is | | | | interesting piece of history on your wall. By far the |
| undoubtedly the case if you want to purchase one | | | | best starting point for a new collector is to buy prints |
| of the more rare examples of cartography. This can | | | | of maps, whether regional, global or astral. These can |
| only be achieved by hiring experts in the particular | | | | be bought from numerous outlets. Be warned, once |
| era that the map relates to. Many of the earliest | | | | you have begun collecting these fascinating pieces of |
| maps were drawn on parchment that requires | | | | history, you may find it difficult to stop. The only limit |
| particular care and conditions to prevent it from being | | | | to the size and content of your potential collection is |
| destroyed. Only national museums are lucky enough | | | | the amount of money that you are prepared to |
| to house such treasures. | | | | spend! |