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. |
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 |
