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

Nouvelle et exacte description du globe terrestre reveue corrigée et augmente´e suivant les derniéres relations des Anglais et Hollandois. Par Guillaume Blaeu 1645.

1645 DE FER, A. - Nouvelle et exacte description du globe terrestre reveue corrigée et augmente´e suivant les derniéres relations des Anglais et Hollandois. Par Guilla...

$25000 / ≈ €22233
Maker: DE FER, A.
Date: Paris, 1645

 


Prof. Dr. A. Krause, Neuer Handels- u. Verkehrsglobus, Verlag Paul Räth.

1930 KRAUSE, A. - Prof. Dr. A. Krause, Neuer Handels- u. Verkehrsglobus, Verlag Paul Räth.

$2100 / ≈ €1868
Maker: KRAUSE, A.
Date: Leipzig, Paul Räth, ca. 1930

 


(South America) - Delineatio omnium orarum totius Australis partis Americae, dictae Peruvianae, a R. de la Plata, Brasiliam Pariam, et Castellam auream una cum omnibus…

1593 LINSCHOTEN, J.H. van - Decorative map of South America, which goes as far north as part of Florida, is extremely well-detailed along the coast.

$4500 / ≈ €4002
Maker: VAN LINSCHOTEN, J.H.
Date: Amsterdam, 1593

 


Tabula Islandiae. . .

1630 JANSSONIUS, J. - Tabula Islandiae. . .

$1500 / ≈ €1334
Maker: JANSSONIUS, J.
Date: Amsterdam, 1630

 


Histoire de la Guerre Civile en Amerique par M. Le Comte de Paris, Ancien Aide de Camp du General Mac Clellan (McClellan). ...

1875 VORZET, Ed. Dumas - Histoire de la Guerre Civile en Amerique par M. Le Comte de Paris, Ancien Aide de Camp du General Mac Clellan (McClellan). ...

$2000 / ≈ €1779
Maker: VORZET, Ed. Dumas
Date: Paris. Michel Levy Freres, 1875

 


Map of Louisiana from D'Anville's Atlas.

1788 BOWEN, Th. - Map of Louisiana from D'Anville's Atlas.

$750 / ≈ €667
Maker: BOWEN, Th.
Date: London, 1788

 


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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