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.Â
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 & 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.
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, 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+
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.
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.
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.
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
Universe Europae Maritime Eiusque Navigationis Descriptio. Generale Pascaerte van Europa . . .
1584 WAGHENAER, L.J. - This general chart of north-western European coastal waters is from the rare pilot-guide De Spiegel der Zeevaerdt , printed by Christopher Plantin ...
Date: Leyden, 1584
The Kingdome of China.
1627 SPEED, J. - The Kingdome of China.
Date: London, G. Humble, 1627
![Cession de l'Isle d'Ohahiti au Capitaine Wallis par la Reine Obéréa. [Tome II Pl. 2.]](/uploads/cache/26111-250x250.jpg)
Cession de l'Isle d'Ohahiti au Capitaine Wallis par la Reine Obéréa. [Tome II Pl. 2.]
1774 COOK, Captain J. - Cession de l'Isle d'Ohahiti au Capitaine Wallis par la Reine Obéréa. [Tome II Pl. 2.]
Date: Paris, 1774
A Plan of the city and harbour of Macao : a colony of the Portugueze, situated at the southern extremity of the Chinese Empire. . .
1796 NICOL, G. - A Plan of the city and harbour of Macao : a colony of the Portugueze, situated at the southern extremity of the Chinese Empire. . .
Date: London, 1796
L'Impero della preda ossia la Piovra d'Absburgo.
1915 ANONYMOUS. - L'Impero della preda ossia la Piovra d'Absburgo.
Date: La Zincografia, Milan, c. 1915
Frisia occidentalis.
1618 VAN GEELKERKEN, N. - A rare separately published carte-a-figures of Friesland in its first state. The title and the coats of arms of the eleven Frisian towns appear ...
Date: [Leeuwarden], Dierick Albertsen, 1618
Popular Listings
Chinese advertising poster for Red Lion cigarette brand.
1960 ASIATIC LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PRESS - Chinese advertising poster for Red Lion cigarette brand.
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.
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.
Date: Oxford, 1680
![[Anti capitalism Soviet Union propaganda poster]](/uploads/cache/47032-250x250.jpg)
[Anti capitalism Soviet Union propaganda poster]
1974 THE FIGHTING PENCILS - [Anti capitalism Soviet Union propaganda poster]
Date: Leningrad, 1974
