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

Theatrum belli in America Septentrionali. II. foliis comprehensum jussu Acad. Reg. Scient. et Eleg. Litt. exhibet I. C. Rhode Ac: Geogr.

1761 RHODE, I.C. - Two-sheet map of the northeastern part of the United States and Eastern Canada from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic Seaboard, published during ...

$8500 / ≈ €7559
Maker: RHODE, I.C.
Date: Berlin, 1761

 


Tweevoudigh onderwiis van de Hemelsche en Aerdsche Globen; Het een Na de meyning van Ptolemeus met een vasten Aerdkloot...

1655 BLAEU, W. - Tweevoudigh onderwiis van de Hemelsche en Aerdsche Globen; Het een Na de meyning van Ptolemeus met een vasten Aerdkloot...

$2250 / ≈ €2001
Maker: BLAEU, W.
Date: Amsterdam, 1655

 


Sincapour. [Singapore]

1835 HIMELY, S. - Sincapour. [Singapore]

$1500 / ≈ €1334
Maker: HIMELY, S.
Date: Paris, Finot, 1835

 


Carte du pays de Montenegro dressée d'après les opérations géodétiques . . .

1838 KARACSAY, F de. - Carte du pays de Montenegro dressée d'après les opérations géodétiques . . .

$1250 / ≈ €1112
Maker: KARACSAY, F de.
Date: Vienna, ca. 1838

 


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

 


A Map of the British Empire in AMERICA with the French, Spanish and Hollandish Settlements Adjacent Thereto. by Henry Popple. / Nouvelle Carte Particuliere de L'Amerique . . .

1737 POPPLE, H / MORTIER, J. / C. - A Map of the British Empire in AMERICA with the French, Spanish and Hollandish Settlements Adjacent Thereto. by Henry Popple. / Nou...

$15000 / ≈ €13340
Maker: POPPLE, H / MORTIER, J. / C.
Date: Amsterdam, ca. 1737

 


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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