Antique/ Vintage Maps in Books - The Value of Cartography GUIDE (Repost)

Maps In Books

This post may not be the most interesting but it represents an aspect to book collecting that is nonetheless important.

A book with a map is a special thing, and a particularly valuable asset in some cases.

Antique book collectors find great interest in books that show particular places or travels and come with a map to help the reader guide themselves along the route the author or character takes.

In some cases, with antique maps found in books, the information may no longer be up to date or correct but that is expected and adds to the value in most instances.

Some maps, much like illustrations by famous artists (eg Arthur Rackham) will be removed by fans or collectors to frame or sell individually (and thus increase profit). Therefore to have a book complete with map can be a somewhat rare thing.

Below I have listed some types you may see:

The Fantasy Map

Some fantasy or fictional books contain maps to give the reader a sense of the journey undertaken by leading characters.

The Lord Of The Rings is one of the best examples of this, with early editions featuring large, fold-out maps at the back of the book.
The value of a book with the map can be more than half again the overall amount that the book is worth.

The Map End/ Front Paper

Some books have a map as the front or endpaper (the page inside the cover).
This adds to the overall presentation of  book and makes the book suitably more interesting.
Again, Tolkien comes to mind among the more collectible.

Maps of Exploration

Some antique books will detail the adventure, travels or exploration of  a particular person.

In some cases these book will contain maps to show the travels that they undertook.

As these are often historical maps, they can be quite sought after and the books that have such maps are often worth a fair amount more than those that are missing them.

Classic (Vintage) Fold Out Maps

Not a book as such but these large scale folding maps are available in almost every bookshop or charity shop across England at least.
With older cloth version dating pre 1950's being worth more than later paper copies, these are the classic map and can be quite valuable if particularly early, of a popular area eg London Central or if you have a set.

Map of the Heavens etc

Maps of land aren't the only type available. There are maps of the heavens. maps of the ocean bottom and many other maps besides.
The map below is from a book printed in 1850 and is valuable in itself, especially as it is a double page plate.

Colour Antique Maps

Antique maps found in books are generally black and white.

Maps with colour are generally more collectable although watch out that they haven't been coloured by a reader!
The maps below is not entirely correct compare with modern maps and dates from a book printed in 1872

Vintage Travel Guide

There are many series of vintage travel books containing maps.

Below is from the classic Ward Lock Travel Guide series but Baedekers is a more valuable series in comparison. Maps from the Baedeker books can be removed and sold individually so valuable are the books

These books will feature many maps along with illustrations to help a tourist travelling to such country as the book is about.

A collection or set can be worth a lot although here age is of importance for the pre 1900 books are far more valuable than later editions such as the book below.

 Removed maps

The map below dates from the 1770's and may well have been removed from a book.
Pre 1850's books can be particularly valuable if containing a map or several. In many cases these maps may have been removed to sell individually.
These are generally good for framing and hold often a limited value purely from interest or age.

Artistic Maps

Some books feature maps that have been creatively designed or artistically created.

These ae generally more modern bu pre 1930's books with such maps can be of great interest to collectors depending on the book title and the artist (in some cases).
Below is a map from a discovery book designed to show the 'Illumination' of the human race through exploration of the various continents.

City Map

City maps, especially when part of a map booklet or book are particularly valuable.
The rate at which things change in a city means that such maps are often hugely outdated and thus if interest for readers to see what the historic world was like.

Look for tube maps or central city maps older than 1930 for some value

And that concludes this brief guide about maps.
I have tried to include what I know but I am sure that there are many other types of maps out there to be found in books - cartographers may be turning in their graves around the world knowing that I have written this!

I hope the guide helped at least in showing how important maps can be to books.

Thanks for reading and as ever a share, comment or +1 is much appreciated

Stunning Design - Antique Books and their Decorative Covers

Decorative Books

Here is another small post purely concerning decorative covers on antique or vintage books.

Nearly every book collector will have their own favourite era, style or binding of book regardless of topic.
Some may prefer the classic finely bound leather book whilst others may prefer books from uniform series.

I however prefer highly decorative antique books.Some of my favourite are collected below - maybe these will help you to choose a style or design that you like...

Neo-Classicism

This style echoes the designs of hundreds of years back, usually focusing on columns, statue and mock ancient design.

Art Deco

One of the famous of design movements, books with art deco design often feature vertical bars and repetitive, bold designs using geometric shapes

Arts and Crafts

This era represents design using simple forms often featuring medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration.

Art Deco/ Arts and Crafts

Bold black and whites and silhouette designs are often unique as seen below.
They appear bold and stylish in the face of time and can be fairly valuable due to this.

Here is a design of antique book that you will see often.

Featuring gilt detailing and a floral design on the front, these books usually aren't worth much due to a uniformity of design with other books.

Below is what in opinion is a slightly upgraded cover design from the previous one.
This type is also very common among pre 1900 books and will feature the usual heavy gilding and thorough decoration but will also display design relevant to the book's content.

Surrealism

The iconic Jules Verne Serpent cover design is renowned for it's bold style despite its age.
Whilst not true surrealism, this books cover design is quite unique and hard to define as an artistic movement.

Regardless, such books can be worth £20+ just from the cover design

 Celtic Revival (Mock)

The design below represents mock Celtic revival with flowing, knotted lines and intricate weaves.
This could be associated with art nouveau perhaps also.

The book below is quite unique in my experience and holds some value for it's design.

Another classic book design.
This style was popular between 1860 and 1890 and features heavy gilding, floral designs and bold fonts.
These are once more quite valuable for the luxury and beauty of the design.

Modern

It is not just antique or vintage books that carry unique or decorative cover designs.
The book seen below is a modern illustrated edition of The Hobbit featuring a pretty art-nouveau inspired design with the gilt detailing popular in pre 1900's book design.

Art Nouveau

One of the most collected book design eras, Art Nouveau represents flowing, floral designs, heavy use of gilt and unique, twisting fonts.

1910-1930 Decorative

Not necessarily of any era of design but borrowing sometimes heavily from art deco or arts and crafts, these type of covers are bold, stunning and highly decorative.

Here is an assortment of other highly decorative book designs.
The Evangeline is probably my favourite of all covers:

 I hope you have learnt something, even if just that you like a particular design.
I confess that my knowledge of different eras is somewhat lacking so if you have any advice or tips regarding this post please don't hesitate to contact me!

 Thanks for reading

Antique/ Vintage Maps in Books - The Value of Cartography GUIDE

Maps In Books

This post may not be the most interesting but it represents an aspect to book collecting that is nonetheless important.

A book with a map is a special thing, and a particularly valuable asset in some cases.

Antique book collectors find great interest in books that show particular places or travels and come with a map to help the reader guide themselves along the route the author or character takes.

In some cases, with antique maps found in books, the information may no longer be up to date or correct but that is expected and adds to the value in most instances.

Some maps, much like illustrations by famous artists (eg Arthur Rackham) will be removed by fans or collectors to frame or sell individually (and thus increase profit). Therefore to have a book complete with map can be a somewhat rare thing.

Below I have listed some types you may see:

The Fantasy Map

Some fantasy or fictional books contain maps to give the reader a sense of the journey undertaken by leading characters.

The Lord Of The Rings is one of the best examples of this, with early editions featuring large, fold-out maps at the back of the book.
The value of a book with the map can be more than half again the overall amount that the book is worth.

The Map End/ Front Paper

Some books have a map as the front or endpaper (the page inside the cover).
This adds to the overall presentation of  book and makes the book suitably more interesting.
Again, Tolkien comes to mind among the more collectible.

Maps of Exploration

Some antique books will detail the adventure, travels or exploration of  a particular person.

In some cases these book will contain maps to show the travels that they undertook.

As these are often historical maps, they can be quite sought after and the books that have such maps are often worth a fair amount more than those that are missing them.

Classic (Vintage) Fold Out Maps

Not a book as such but these large scale folding maps are available in almost every bookshop or charity shop across England at least.
With older cloth version dating pre 1950's being worth more than later paper copies, these are the classic map and can be quite valuable if particularly early, of a popular area eg London Central or if you have a set.

Map of the Heavens etc

Maps of land aren't the only type available. There are maps of the heavens. maps of the ocean bottom and many other maps besides.
The map below is from a book printed in 1850 and is valuable in itself, especially as it is a double page plate.

Colour Antique Maps

Antique maps found in books are generally black and white.

Maps with colour are generally more collectable although watch out that they haven't been coloured by a reader!
The maps below is not entirely correct compare with modern maps and dates from a book printed in 1872

Vintage Travel Guide

There are many series of vintage travel books containing maps.

Below is from the classic Ward Lock Travel Guide series but Baedekers is a more valuable series in comparison. Maps from the Baedeker books can be removed and sold individually so valuable are the books

These books will feature many maps along with illustrations to help a tourist travelling to such country as the book is about.

A collection or set can be worth a lot although here age is of importance for the pre 1900 books are far more valuable than later editions such as the book below.

 Removed maps

The map below dates from the 1770's and may well have been removed from a book.
Pre 1850's books can be particularly valuable if containing a map or several. In many cases these maps may have been removed to sell individually.
These are generally good for framing and hold often a limited value purely from interest or age.

Artistic Maps

Some books feature maps that have been creatively designed or artistically created.

These ae generally more modern bu pre 1930's books with such maps can be of great interest to collectors depending on the book title and the artist (in some cases).
Below is a map from a discovery book designed to show the 'Illumination' of the human race through exploration of the various continents.

City Map

City maps, especially when part of a map booklet or book are particularly valuable.
The rate at which things change in a city means that such maps are often hugely outdated and thus if interest for readers to see what the historic world was like.

Look for tube maps or central city maps older than 1930 for some value

And that concludes this brief guide about maps.
I have tried to include what I know but I am sure that there are many other types of maps out there to be found in books - cartographers may be turning in their graves around the world knowing that I have written this!

I hope the guide helped at least in showing how important maps can be to books.

Thanks for reading and as ever a share, comment or +1 is much appreciated