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 offer antique maps from all parts of 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. 
The high standards of our map and atlas collection 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.
Our stock is updated weekly, and our most recent additions are conveniently displayed in our "Latest Listings".
Have a look at 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 is updated daily and you see what we’ve recently added. Let's take a look at some rare maps we've recently acquired.
Join our newsletter and be the first to be notified of new acquisitions and get exclusive offers.
Feel free to contact us using the contact form, Chat on WhatsApp, 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.
The items are immediately available, and no commission is charged.

Amsterdam Map Fair

Amsterdam Map Fair, 12 September

Paulus Swaen will be exhibiting at the 3rd Amsterdam Map Fair in the Maritime Museum on September 12, 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 the pricing development of old maps.


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

Americae Nova Tabula.

1645 BLAEU, W. - Americae Nova Tabula.

$6000 / ≈ €5336
Maker: BLAEU, W.
Date: Amsterdam, 1645

 


Vue de la Rivière d'Endeavour sur la Côte de la Nouvelle Hollande ou le Vaisseau fut mis à la bande. [Tome IV Pl. 1ère.]

1773 COOK, Captain J. - Vue de la Rivière d'Endeavour sur la Côte de la Nouvelle Hollande ou le Vaisseau fut mis à la bande. [Tome IV Pl. 1ère.]

$280 / ≈ €249
Maker: COOK, Captain J.
Date: Paris, 1773

 


20 small lithographed views of Washington DC and Georgetown.

1849 WEBER, E. - 20 small lithographed views of Washington DC and Georgetown.

Maker: WEBER, E.
Date: Casimir Bohn, Washington, D.C.: 1849

 


[Crimea]. Carte de la Cromée.

1787 VAN KINSBERGEN, J.H. - [Crimea]. Carte de la Cromée.

$3000 / ≈ €2668
Maker: VAN KINSBERGEN, J.H.
Date: Amsterdam, H. Frieseman, 1787

 


North and South America At-A-Glance.

1931 THE INTERNATIONAL AT-A-GLANCE CHART CO. - North and South America At-A-Glance.

$300 / ≈ €267
Maker: THE INTERNATIONAL AT-A-GLANCE CHART CO.
Date: New York & London: International At-A-Glance Chart Co. 1931

 


Carte de la coste orientale de la Chine depuis Amoy, jusqu'à Chusan avec une partie de l'Isle Formose [with] Plan du port d'Amoy ou Emouy.

1745 D'APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE, J. B. N. - Carte de la coste orientale de la Chine depuis Amoy, jusqu'à Chusan avec une partie de l'Isle Formose [with] Plan du port d'A...

$4000 / ≈ €3557
Maker: D'APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE, J. B. N.
Date: Paris, Jean-François Robustel, 1745

 


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 / ≈ €1334
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 / ≈ €5336
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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