PAULUS SWAEN OLD & RARE MAPS

We specialize in rare maps, atlases, globes, travel posters, master prints, and decorative prints from the 16th to 18th centuries, and we offer antique maps from around the world, produced by renowned cartographers such as Ortelius, Mercator, Blaeu, Janssonius, Hondius, Visscher, and de Wit. The items listed in our BuyNow catalog are available for immediate sale. 
Paulus Swaen was founded by current owner Pierre Joppen. Every sold item has 48 years of primary research behind every attribution and condition description. Each item will receive a certificate of authenticity and we offer a lifetime guarantee on all our items. 
Our map and atlas collection's high standards are world-renowned.


Catalog of old maps and prints

Swaen BuyNow CATALOG

Our BuyNow-catalog offers immediate sale items, and no commission is charged. The catalog includes old maps of the World - America - Asia - Europe - Africa - Medieval Manuscripts - Nuremberg Chronicle - Prints - Posters, atlases, globes, etc.
We update our stock weekly, and our latest additions are conveniently displayed in our "Latest Listings".
Check out our Gallery highlights or our Curated Collection of carefully selected old and rare maps, all graded 8-10 stars in the HiBCoR grading system.

Latest Listings

Latest Listings & Updates

You can always check our latest listings page. It updates daily, so you can see what we’ve recently added. Let's take a look at some rare maps we've recently acquired.
Join our newsletter to be the first to hear about new acquisitions and get exclusive offers.
Feel free to contact us via the contact form, WhatsApp chat, or Social Media.


Highlights

Gallery Highlights

In this highlights section of the BuyNow catalog, we present some personal favorites from our large stock of authentic maps, atlases, prints, globes, posters and Medieval manuscripts.
Items are available immediately, and we charge no commission.

Paris Map Fair

Paris Map Fair, 21 Nov.

Paulus Swaen will exhibit at the 25th Paris Map Fair at Espace Cléry, 21 November, 2026. Please check out some of the highlights we will bring to the fair

My Collection+

My Collection+

Now you can save any of your favorite items from our BuyNow catalog, Latest Listings, or Archive in one place. Build your own Virtual Collection. It is free and you can delete an item at any time. Previously acquired items are automatically added to the My Collection+ list.

mapping of

The Mapping of . . .

We have created some short articles on the mapping of Arabia, Australia, Canada, China, Hungary, the Invasion of Minorca, Japan, Korea, Malta, the Mer de l'Ouest, the Northwest Passage, Poland, Russia, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Ukraine, among other regions.

catalog archive

Archive of sold items

Paulus Swaen maintains an archive of sold items, including images. Most map images are not subject to copyright and can be used freely, as they are in the public domain. These historical prices can help explain how old map prices developed.


Articles about maps

Read our short articles

If you are interested in the backgrounds of antique maps, prints, mapmakers, etc., then you should read our short but informative articles >>>>
Or about posters, old prints, Nuremberg Chronicle, optical prints, medieval manuscripts, etc.



Featured Listings

[Title page from Theatrum orbis Terrarum, with past-on]

1650 BLAEU, J. - [Title page from Theatrum orbis Terrarum, with past-on]

$450 / ≈ €401
Maker: BLAEU, J.
Date: Amsterdam, ca. 1650

 


Map of contour survey of the site for the federal capital of Australia.

1910 BROINOWSKI, F. J. / SCRIVENER, Ch. - Map of contour survey of the site for the federal capital of Australia.

$650 / ≈ €580
Maker: BROINOWSKI, F. J. / SCRIVENER, Ch.
Date: Department of Lands, Sydney, 1910

 


Histoire Naturelle, Civile, Et Ecclésiastique..'

1729 KAEMPFER, E. - Histoire Naturelle, Civile, Et Ecclésiastique..'

$7000 / ≈ €6243
Maker: KAEMPFER, E.
Date: Amsterdam, 1729

 


Map showing the cotton growing belt in the United States Prepared for and copyrighted by Geo. H.Mc.Fadden & Bro., cotton merchands based in Phiiladelphia, USA 1892.

1892 Mc.FADDEN, H. - Map showing the cotton growing belt in the United States Prepared for and copyrighted by Geo. H.Mc.Fadden & Bro., cotton merchands based in Ph...

$1000 / ≈ €892
Maker: Mc.FADDEN, H.
Date: Philadelphia, 1892

 


Histoire Socialiste.

1931 CENTRE DE PROPAGANDE DES REPUBLICAINS NATIONAUX - Histoire Socialiste.

$1750 / ≈ €1561
Maker: CENTRE DE PROPAGANDE DES REPUBLICAINS NATIONAUX
Date: Paris, 1931

 


Optique de St.Cloud.

1845 [VUE DEPLIANTE A PERSPECTIVE]. - Optique de St.Cloud.

$1100 / ≈ €981
Maker: [VUE DEPLIANTE A PERSPECTIVE].
Date: Paris, ca.1845

 


Popular Listings

Chinese advertising poster for Red Lion cigarette brand.

1960 ASIATIC LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PRESS - Chinese advertising poster for Red Lion cigarette brand.

$100 / ≈ €89
Maker: ASIATIC LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PRESS
Date: Shanghai, 1950/1960

 


A rare suite of 12 original etchings by Martin van Maele to the famous work by Edmond Haracourt.

1883 VAN MAELE, M. - A rare suite of 12 original etchings by Martin van Maele to the famous work by Edmond Haracourt.

$1500 / ≈ €1338
Maker: VAN MAELE, M.
Date: Nevers, Brussels, 1882,1883

 


Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula.

1680 PITT, M. / SWART, S. / JANSSONIUS VAN WAESBERGHE, J. - Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula.

$6000 / ≈ €5351
Maker: PITT, M. / SWART, S. / JANSSONIUS VAN WAESBERGHE, J.
Date: Oxford, 1680

 


[Anti capitalism Soviet Union propaganda poster]

1974 THE FIGHTING PENCILS - [Anti capitalism Soviet Union propaganda poster]

$100 / ≈ €89
Maker: THE FIGHTING PENCILS
Date: Leningrad, 1974

 



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