Richard Nicholson of Chester
A World of Antique Maps and Prints
Established in 1961
A Guide to Collecting Antique Maps
A Theme for your Map Collection
What can I collect?
These pages are for new collectors or for those persons who are not aware of the wealth of original old maps that there is to collect. It is not intended to be a reference work but more of a simple place to get to know about the enjoyment of collecting maps of the the British Isles counties. I shall list roughly in date order some of the cartographers to keep a look out for when building your collection of British County Maps. I will keep returning to this guide to add more information so please check occasionally. One advantage I have with the internet site opposed to a printed book is the number of images I will be able to provide.
There are some awesome reference books on antique maps which I have used to assist me which include the following:
Antique Maps of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. R. C. E. Quixley and J. M. E. Quixley. Published in 2018. The amazing information on mapmakers can be used to related any county.
Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers. A set of four volumes published by Map Collector Publications and later by Early World Press. Any name in early cartography you will find here with information.
WALES
Many cartographers did not include individual Welsh county maps in their atlases. Wales was usually covered by a map of the whole country or a map of North Wales and another of South Wales. Monmouthshire is not always classed as being in Wales so very often an atlas includes a map of Monmouthshire but no other Welsh county.
SCOTLAND and IRELAND
The range of county maps to collect is much smaller than England as many cartographers only covered Scotland by a map of the country or a map of the North and another of the South. The same goes for Ireland although there are sometimes individual maps of the Provinces.
THE BRITISH ISLES
Most county atlases include a map of the British Isles. In some cases this can be supplemented by maps of England and Wales, Saxon England and Roman Britain. And then there are the wonderful selection of maps of each county.
I have divided this guide into four sections to cover the following periods
RICHARD NICHOLSON
of CHESTER
Stoneydale
Pepper Street
Christleton
Chester
CH3 7AG
Telephone
01244 336004
International 44 1244 336004
I have been buying and selling antique maps since the early 1960's during which time I had a gallery in Watergate Street, Chester for 30 years. I am now able to offer through my websites a personal service to map and print collectors.
