LONDON – A market-fresh copy of the first world atlas compiled by an Englishman will be offered at Chiswick Auctions on March 16. John Speed’s A Prospect of the most famous Parts of the World, bound together with The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine comes for sale via family descent. It carries an estimate of £12,000-£15,000, or about $14,300-$17,800.
RICHMOND, Va. – Henry Briggs’ first English map to show California as an island and the earliest collectible map of Eastern North Carolina and Virginia by John White/Theodor De Bry are among the more than 750 items from consigners all over the world that will be featured in Old World Auctions’ November online sale. Bidding will close on November 16 at 10 p.m. ET. The catalog may be viewed online now at LiveAuctioneers.
BERKELEY, Calif. – PBA Galleries will hold a 475-lot auction titled Americana – Travel & Exploration – World History – Cartography on October 7. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
NEW YORK – On Tuesday, October 5, starting at 8 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will hold an 131-lot auction of Maps from a Seller’s Private Collection. While the consignor has declined to be named, he is comfortable revealing that he is a map dealer from Ohio, and is offering his private collection. All lots in the sale represent authentic, collectible maps that have been held under archival conditions to keep them from harm. There are no modern reprints of any kind – all are original engravings, lithographs or other type of image printed in the 19th century or earlier. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
NEW YORK – Maps represent the ultimate marriage of art and science. Yes, they must be reasonably accurate – if they’re not, they’re useless – but given a choice between a map that is perfectly correct and one that’s correct but also has mermaids and monsters and fancy old ships swimming in its seas and an area marked “Here Be Dragons,” most people would take the second option.
NEW YORK – Maps are beautiful, decorative, and functional. Not only do they put the world in your hands, they let you fold or roll it up and carry it with you, wherever you might roam. It’s not surprising that collectors’ appetite for maps has been, and continues to be, absolutely insatiable. On May 4, starting at 8 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will kick off its Premium Antiquarian Maps sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
NEW YORK – Buckaroo Banzai, lead character of the eponymous 1984 cult movie, said, “No matter where you go, there you are.” A good map lets you identify exactly where you are, but it’s perfectly OK to treat maps purely as works of art, or as a reminder of good times enjoyed in great places. On April 27, starting at 8 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will stage a sale of 16th – 20th century antiquarian maps, selected by expert Steve Kovacs. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.