Beginner's Guide

Beginner's Guide
to
Map Collecting
Reference Books

Once a new collector catches the bug he always wants to learn about his subject. Unfortunately, being a periodical, MapForum.Com could never produce an in-depth study in one issue, so we have compiled a short list of reference books that give a good outline view of antiquarian maps. We have divided them into two types, those written by academics and those by dealers. The academic ones tend to be more thorough, but have descriptions of maps deep in a museum's collection. The dealers write from their experiences with their own stock, so their examples are more likely to acquirable.

Few on the list are still being published: books with such a specialist interest tend to have a short shelf life. However most are easily available from map dealers. Some have been reprinted, but we have ignored later editions.

Abbreviations:	d/w	Dustwrapper
	illus.	illustrated
	pp.	pages
	4to	quarto
	8vo	octavo

The Academics

Allen, Philip The Atlas of Atlases
London: Ebury Press, 1988 4to, cloth & illus. d/w; pp. 159, illustrated throughout. History of mapping, using the atlases from the Cadbury Collection, Birmingham Central Library. Beautifully illustrated.

Bagrow, Leo History of Cartography
London: C.A.Watts, 1964 Large 8vo, cloth & d/w; pp.312, 21 colour plates + 116 b&w. Edited by R.A. Skelton. Very academic work, well-illustrated, featuring many rarities. Unusual for including discussion of non-western European materials.

Campbell, Tony Early Maps
New York: Abbeville Press 1981 Folio, cloth & d/w; pp. 148, illus. Scholarly account, with much about manuscripts, by the Map Librarian of the British Library. Again well-illustrated.

Goss, John The Mapmaker's Art
London: Studio Editions, 1993 Large 4to, cloth & d/w; pp. 376, illus. The largest book here, a wide-ranging survey, with very readable text. Well illustrated.

Skelton, R.A. Decorative Printed Maps of the 15th to the 18th Centuries
London, Staples Press, 1952 4to, cloth & d/w; pp. viii + 80, 86 plates. An influential book, written around the plates. With introductory text, and then commentary on the plates.

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The Dealers
Baynton-Williams, Roger	Investing in Maps London: Barrie & Rockliffe, 1969	4to, cloth & d/w; pp. 160, illus.	With short biographical dictionary. Unfortunately quotes 1960s pricing. Long overdue for a new edition.
Manasek, Frank	Collecting Old Maps Vermont: Terra Nova Press, 1998	Large 8vo, cloth & d/w; pp. xii + 15-314, illus.	A general introduction, then descriptions of 130 maps in detail. with short biographies & glossary.
Moreland, Carl & Bannister, David	Antique Maps: A Collector's Handbook London: Longman, 1983	8vo, cloth & d/w; pp. 314, illus.	Frequently re-issued, with very useful potted biographies of principal figures.
Potter, Jonathan	Country Life Book of Antique Maps London: Country Life, 1988.	4to, cloth & d/w; pp. 192, illus.	With sections on each part of the world. Well-illustrated
Tooley, R.V.	Maps and Mapmakers London, Batsford, 1949	8vo, cloth & d/w; pp.xii + 140, illus.	General book from the most prolific cartographical writer, sadly suffering from lack of colour illustrations, even in later editions

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The Academics
Allen, Philip	The Atlas of Atlases London: Ebury Press, 1988	4to, cloth & illus. d/w; pp. 159, illustrated throughout.	History of mapping, using the atlases from the Cadbury Collection, Birmingham Central Library. Beautifully illustrated.
Bagrow, Leo	History of Cartography London: C.A.Watts, 1964	Large 8vo, cloth & d/w; pp.312, 21 colour plates + 116 b&w.	Edited by R.A. Skelton. Very academic work, well-illustrated, featuring many rarities. Unusual for including discussion of non-western European materials.
Campbell, Tony	Early Maps New York: Abbeville Press 1981	Folio, cloth & d/w; pp. 148, illus.	Scholarly account, with much about manuscripts, by the Map Librarian of the British Library. Again well-illustrated.
Goss, John	The Mapmaker's Art London: Studio Editions, 1993	Large 4to, cloth & d/w; pp. 376, illus.	The largest book here, a wide-ranging survey, with very readable text. Well illustrated.
Skelton, R.A.	Decorative Printed Maps of the 15th to the 18th Centuries London, Staples Press, 1952	4to, cloth & d/w; pp. viii + 80, 86 plates.	An influential book, written around the plates. With introductory text, and then commentary on the plates.

Beginner's Guide toMap Collecting Reference Books

Beginner's Guide
to
Map Collecting
Reference Books