Articles
75 articles
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A Pictorial Glossary of Allegorical & Mythological Figures on Maps
This October 2022 article offers a pictorial glossary of the most common mythological and allegorical figures that are found on maps and title pages. Along with images of each, the glossary includes the Roman and Greek name for the deity or muse, a description of their physical characteristics and symbols, and their meaning on maps.
Frisland and the (Not So True) Adventures of the Zeno Brothers
This August 2022 article explains the story behind the mythical island of Frisland, which was purported to be located in the North Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland. The island was reportedly discovered by the Zeno brothers in the 14th century, and was first introduced to Europeans through a fantastical account published by a Zeno ancestor in the mid-sixteenth century. The account was accompanied by a map of Frisland and adjacent fictitious islands, which enabled these fabled islands to make their way onto some of the most famous maps of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Blaeu vs. Hondius/Jansson: The Battle for Cartographic Supremacy
This July 2022 article gives a brief history of the publishing houses of Willem Blaeu and Jan Jansson, and explains how the rivalry between these two firms unfolded. As two of the best-known figures during the Golden Age of Dutch cartography, Blaeu and Jansson were prolific publishers of maps and atlases, and their works are highly prized among collectors. But who won in the battle for cartographic supremacy? This article shines a light on several factors that should be considered when crowning the cartographic king.
Duncan MacRae Payne: A Father, a Collector and a Legacy
This May 2022 article tells the story of the life, accomplishments and legacy of Duncan MacRae Payne. Over his lifetime he curated an impressive collection of maps, atlases and historical documents. His passion for cartography was infectious, even convincing his daughter and son-in-law, Eliane & Jon Dotson, to get into the map business themselves with Old World Auctions.
The Heart of Ukraine in Early Maps
This March 2022 article gives a brief history of the geography, people, and political boundaries of Ukraine, and demonstrates how the mapping of the region has changed over the centuries.
Maps Are People Too
This January 2022 article gives an overview of anthropomorphic mapping - the art of reimagining geography into human forms. Learn how anthropomorphic mapping began, and how it has evolved over the centuries.
Auction Trends in 2021
This December 2021 newsletter reviews the trends in the auction market for maps in 2021. We share great insights about what's selling and what's not, as well as some interesting facts and figures about Old World Auctions.
Texas: The Garden Spot of the World
This October 2021 article gives a brief history of the colonization and development of the great state of Texas from its time as a Spanish and then Mexican possession, to becoming an independent Republic, and finally admitted as the 28th state of the United States.
The Man Behind "The Last Great Cartographic Myth"
This August 2021 article is an interview with Don McGuirk, author of "The Last Great Cartographic Myth," an authoritative online resource dedicated to the mythical Sea of the West. Don explains how he became interested in maps and the Sea of the West, how the myth first began, and how it was depicted on maps over time.
Blame it on the Fog: Staten Island, Compagnies Land & Da Gama Land
This July 2021 article tells the story of the voyages of Maarten Gerritsz de Vries and João da Gama in the region of the Kuril Islands northeast of Japan, and how their sightings of land became confused and conflated on maps for over a century.
The Collector From the Prairies
This May 2021 article tells the story of how a map collector from Iowa got his start, time traveled through maps, and found ways to connect with history. A portion of his remarkable collection will be featured in the June 2021 sale at Old World Auctions.
A New View on the First Lithographed Map in the United States
This April 2021 article is by guest contributor Jim Kissko, founder of Camelot Books. This article makes the case for the first map that was lithographed and published in the United States.
Theodore de Bry's Grands Voyages Part I Inventory
This March 2021 article is by guest contributor Luke Vavra, former map dealer and specialist in Virginia material. This is the fourth in a four-part series about Part I of Theodore de Bry's "India Occidentalis" (America). This fourth article discusses the current inventory of existing volumes of "Grands Voyages."
Theodore de Bry's Pict Plates from Grands Voyages Part I
This March 2021 article is by guest contributor Luke Vavra, former map dealer and specialist in Virginia material. This is the third in a four-part series about the engravings in Part I of Theodore de Bry's "India Occidentalis" (America). This third article discusses the Pict plates in Part I, which depicted ancient Britons.
Theodore de Bry's Plates from Grands Voyages Part I
This February 2021 article is by guest contributor Luke Vavra, former map dealer and specialist in Virginia material. This is the second in a four-part series about the engravings in Part I of Theodore de Bry's "India Occidentalis" (America). This second article discusses the plates in Part I, including the title page, the dedication, the Virginia map, and the Algonquian series, with particular attention to the Kiwasa plate.
Theodore de Bry's Adam & Eve Engraving from Grands Voyages
This January 2021 article is by guest contributor Luke Vavra, former map dealer and specialist in Virginia material. This is the first in a four-part series about the engravings in Part I of Theodore de Bry's "India Occidentalis" (America). This first article concerns the first engraving in Part I - that of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Auction Trends in 2020
This December 2020 newsletter reviews the trends in the auction market for maps in 2020. We share great insights about what's selling and what's not, as well as some interesting facts and figures about Old World Auctions.
Fake News You Won't Want to Miss
Fake maps - and in particular reproductions - can be found in the most curious of places. If you've ever wondered how to determine if an antique map is real or fake, this article will walk you through four key clues that will help you identify reproductions and confirm a map's authenticity.
The Mapmakers Who Made the 20th Century
This is the final article in a series about mapmakers who played key roles in each century, and focuses on mapmakers in the 20th century, including Rand McNally Company, MacDonald Gill, and Jo Mora.
The Mapmakers Who Made the 19th Century
Read our July 2020 newsletter featuring an article about "The Mapmakers Who Made the 19th Century," which gives an overview of some of the most important cartographers of the 1800s and their most iconic maps, including Arrowsmith, Tallis, Mitchell, and the United States Government.
75 articles
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About Us
Old World Auctions specializes in genuine antique maps, atlases and decorative graphics originating between the 14th and 19th centuries.
Recent Articles
- A Pictorial Glossary of Allegorical & Mythological Figures on MapsA Pictorial Glossary of Allegorical & Mythological Figures on Maps
- Frisland and the (Not So True) Adventures of the Zeno BrothersFrisland and the (Not So True) Adventures of the Zeno Brothers
- Blaeu vs. Hondius/Jansson: The Battle for Cartographic SupremacyBlaeu vs. Hondius/Jansson: The Battle for Cartographic Supremacy
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