In the centuries since daring explorers first left home to travel the world and chart their travels, publishers have printed countless antique maps depicting the four corners of the globe. Collectors love these remnants of the Age of Discovery for their beauty and rarity, so Queen Street Gallery in Martinsburg, WV, wants anyone interested to know what to look for and how to begin collecting antique maps.

3 Key Tips For Collecting Antique Maps

Focus On A Particular Region Or Period

It's best to focus on a particular region or period that interests you rather than building an assortment of disparate, unconnected pieces. Specialized collections are more valuable, useful, and easier to sell than a collection that — although filled with beautiful or interesting maps — is meaningful only to you.

Buy Maps In Original Color

Choose maps printed in their original color. In many cases, antique maps have been recolored to make them more attractive as artwork. Although it might make them more visually appealing, recoloring diminishes their value.

Avoid Deconstructed Atlases

Many antique maps on the market now were originally published as part of an atlas, but they were subsequently cut out and sold separately. Avoid maps of this sort, and instead look for maps published separately or entire atlases. These are rarer, more valuable, and more sought after.

Queen Street Gallery, the premier art gallery and custom picture framing service in Martinsburg, WV, features a nice selection of antique maps that would make an ideal first piece for your collection. Visit their website for contact and location information, or call (304) 263-9495 to learn more about their inventory.