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

[Manuscript chart on vellum of the Java Sea]

1743 DE GRAAF, I. - Manuscript charts on vellum, signed by Isaac de Graaf, showing the Java Sea, centered on Java, with Borneo and parts of Sumatra and Bali

$290000 / ≈ €257959
Maker: DE GRAAF, I.
Date: Amsterdam, 1743

 


Diocesi Padovana Con Tutta La Sua Estensione Ne Vicini Territori.

1720 CLARICI, Paolo Bartolomeo - Diocesi Padovana Con Tutta La Sua Estensione Ne Vicini Territori.

$7250 / ≈ €6449
Maker: CLARICI, Paolo Bartolomeo
Date: Padova, 1720

 


Archipelague du Mexique ou sont les Isles de Cuba..

1688 NOLIN, J.-B. / CORONELLI, V.M. - Archipelague du Mexique ou sont les Isles de Cuba..

$2000 / ≈ €1779
Maker: NOLIN, J.-B. / CORONELLI, V.M.
Date: Paris, 1688

 


COLLECTION OF HONG KONG MAPS, BOOKS & FLYERS. Including CHINA - HONGKONG surveyed by Captn. Sir Edward Belcher, in H.M.S. Sulphur 1841. Corrected to 1901.

1901 BRITISH ADMIRALTY CHART - COLLECTION OF HONG KONG MAPS, BOOKS & FLYERS. Including CHINA - HONGKONG surveyed by Captn. Sir Edward Belcher, in H.M.S. Sulphur 18...

$25000 / ≈ €22238
Maker: BRITISH ADMIRALTY CHART
Date: London, 1841 - 1901

 


A Humorous Diplomatic Atlas of Europe and Asia. / 滑稽欧亜外交地図 / Kokkei Ō-A Gaikō Chizu.

1904 OHARA, K. - A Humorous Diplomatic Atlas of Europe and Asia. / 滑稽欧亜外交地図 / Kokkei Ō-A Gaikō Chizu.

$5000 / ≈ €4448
Maker: OHARA, K.
Date: Tokyo, April, 1904

 


Comitatus Flandria.

1630 VISSCHER, C.Jsz. - Comitatus Flandria.

$4000 / ≈ €3558
Maker: VISSCHER, C.Jsz.
Date: Amsterdam, c. 1630

 


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 / ≈ €5337
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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