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

Constantinople, Plan de ..., et de ses faubourgs d'après Kauffer. . . et Joseph de Hammer avec l'indication des quartiers de la ville (Mahalle) et les changements qui s'y sont opérés depuis les années 1776 et 1786. . .

1836 HELLERT, J.-J. - Constantinople, Plan de ..., et de ses faubourgs d'après Kauffer. . . et Joseph de Hammer avec l'indication des quartiers de la ville (Mahalle) e...

Maker: HELLERT, J.-J.
Date: Paris, 1836

 


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 / ≈ €21944
Maker: BRITISH ADMIRALTY CHART
Date: London, 1841 - 1901

 


Avantures du Sr. C. Le Beau, avocat en parlement ou Voyage curieux et nouveau parmi les Sauvages de l'Amérique Septentrionale. Dans lequel on trouvera une Description du Canada… Ouvrage enrichi d'une Carte et des figures necessaires.

1738 LE BEAU, C. - Avantures du Sr. C. Le Beau, avocat en parlement ou Voyage curieux et nouveau parmi les Sauvages de l'Amérique Septentrionale. Dans lequel on trouve...

$2500 / ≈ €2194
Maker: LE BEAU, C.
Date: Amsterdam, 1738

 


RESTORED CROSSTAFF SEGMENT

1757 VAN KEULEN II, J. - RESTORED CROSSTAFF SEGMENT

$20000 / ≈ €17555
Maker: VAN KEULEN II, J.
Date: Amsterdam, 1757

 


Itinera Varia Auctoris.

1746 EDWARDS, G. - Itinera Varia Auctoris.

$300 / ≈ €263
Maker: EDWARDS, G.
Date: London, 1746

 


Topographical map of Hokkaido with localities of useful minerals.

1891 ASONUMA, J. - Topographical map of Hokkaido with localities of useful minerals.

$550 / ≈ €483
Maker: ASONUMA, J.
Date: Hokkaidōchō (Gouvernement de Hokkaidō), Sapporo, 1891

 


Popular Listings

Chinese advertising poster for Red Lion cigarette brand.

1960 ASIATIC LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PRESS - Chinese advertising poster for Red Lion cigarette brand.

$100 / ≈ €88
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 / ≈ €1317
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 / ≈ €5267
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 / ≈ €88
Maker: THE FIGHTING PENCILS
Date: Leningrad, 1974

 



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