Welcome to The Map Chest

Original Antique Maps

The Map Chest specializes in original antique maps printed between 1500 and 1800. We also offer, on a smaller scale, a few antiquarian books. In keeping with our cartographic interests, the antiquarian books we offer are geographies, atlases or travel books printed in the same period.

The 16th through 18th Centuries: An Age of Exploration and Discovery

Antique Maps provide a unique portal for viewing history. Many people think of the Age of Exploration when viewing these maps, and for good reason. Through these maps you can follow the explorations of Magellan, Balboa, Sir Francis Drake, John Smith, Captain Cook and dozens of other adventurers.

But these maps also are reflections of our history above and beyond exploration. They give us a view of the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. The angels, cherubs, and mythical beasts that adorn cathedrals in Europe can be found on old maps.

These maps can prompt us to inquire about the history of western art and industry. Copperplate impressions on old paper can inspire the imagination about scientific processes and the challenges of product distribution in the 16th or 17th centuries. Many old maps strike us as quaint due to their inaccuracies - slightly mis-shapen continents or fanciful islands where none exist. But still we marvel at the accuracy achieved given the limited navigational aids of the time.

We can also turn to antique maps to find long lost places and peoples. They help us think about where we come from - our personal ancestry - and they help us locate the birthplace of our forefathers. Often we find that we come from places that no longer exist, except as place names on old paper. Sometimes these maps tell archeologists where to start digging. And sometimes, when I take a few old maps to my children's elementary school, I see them inspire awe in bright young eyes (and fear in the eyes of the teacher when I let a nine year old child handle a four hundred year old map!). Well, no tears, or tears, yet!

We at the Map Chest hope that you will find something to your liking. We also hope you share in our enthusiasm for these historical treasures.

The Map Chest