Fascination and Inspiration

Collecting antiquarian maps is a special passion for many art lovers. Of course only a very few people possess such expensive rarities like the first edition of the impressive world map by Ortelius or the first map of Europe by Mercator. However, a very affordable map by Merian is something equally special, particularly if one can find his hometown on it as it looked more than 400 years ago!

In addition to their interest as historical cartographic objects, many of these ancient prints also have a high aesthetic value. Maps of the 16th to 18th Centuries are often beautifully coloured and also contain richly ornamented title cartouches. Some of these antique artworks are true treasures, often having a high market value as well. For instance, a woodcut map of Ptolemy from the 2nd half of the 15th Century is a small investment.