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 Pars Magis Cognita. Chorographia nobilis & opulentae Peruanae Provinciae, atque Brasiliae, . . . MDXCII

1592 DE BRY, Th. - Americae Pars Magis Cognita. Chorographia nobilis & opulentae Peruanae Provinciae, atque Brasiliae, . . . MDXCII

$6500 / ≈ €5781
Maker: DE BRY, Th.
Date: Frankfurt, 1592

 


Summa philosophiae quadripartita, de rebus dialecticis, moralibus et metaphysicis . . [ With unrecorded world map ]

1626 EUSTACHE DE SAINT-PAUL - Summa philosophiae quadripartita, de rebus dialecticis, moralibus et metaphysicis . . [ With unrecorded world map ]

Maker: EUSTACHE DE SAINT-PAUL
Date: Leiden, Peter Rigaud, 1626

 


Carte particulière des environs de St Peters-bourg. . . / Plan de la ville faubourg et environs de St Petersbourg. . . / Carte pour l'intelligence de la guerre de Moscovie et de Suede. . .

1741 DE BEAURAIN, J. - Carte particulière des environs de St Peters-bourg. . . / Plan de la ville faubourg et environs de St Petersbourg. . . / Carte pour l'intelligen...

$2500 / ≈ €2223
Maker: DE BEAURAIN, J.
Date: Paris, c.1741

 


Missions et Résidences dans la Partie Septentrionale de l'Amérique Contenant 50 Jésuites.

1826 DENIS, L. - Missions et Résidences dans la Partie Septentrionale de l'Amérique Contenant 50 Jésuites.

$300 / ≈ €267
Maker: DENIS, L.
Date: Paris, Ambroise Dupont , 1826

 


ETATS-UNIS DE L'AMÉRIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE Avec LES ISLES ROYALE, DE TERRE NEUVE, DE S.T JEAN, L'ACADIE, &c. 1785. Supplement a l'Atlas de M. Robert de Vaugondy a Paris Ches Boudet Ingenieur du Roi.

1785 BOUDET / DE VAUGONDY, R. - ETATS-UNIS DE L'AMÉRIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE Avec LES ISLES ROYALE, DE TERRE NEUVE, DE S.T JEAN, L'ACADIE, &c. 1785. Supplement a l'Atla...

$1750 / ≈ €1556
Maker: BOUDET / DE VAUGONDY, R.
Date: Paris, 1785

 


Description geographique, historique, chronologique, politique, et physique de l'empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise.

1770 DU HALDE, Jean Baptiste. - Description geographique, historique […] de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise. The first definitive European work on the Chinese empire....

$12000 / ≈ €10672
Maker: DU HALDE, J.-B.
Date: Paris, P. G. Le Mercier, (vol. 1-3) 1770 / (vol.4),1735

 


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

 


Recently Viewed

Le royaume d'Angleterre..subdivisé en Shires ou Comtés.

1784 SANTINI, F. / REMONDINI, M. - Le royaume d'Angleterre..subdivisé en Shires ou Comtés.

Maker: SANTINI, F. / REMONDINI, M.
Date: Venice, 1778 - 1784
Selling price: ????
Please login to see price!
Sold in 2023

 



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