Collecting Old Maps (Hardcover)

by Francis J. Manasek (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An authoritative introduction to the world of map collecting

From the Publisher
8 3/4 x 11 1/2 trim. 237 illus. (13 color).

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Terra Nova Press, G.B. Manasek, Inc; 1 edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964900068
• ISBN-13: 978-0964900066
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #953,756 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important book for all map collectors, February 14, 2000

By	G. Drakes (N.Y.) - See all my reviews

I would like to gently disagree/agree with the previous reviewer - this book is an exceptionally useful source for collectors at ALL levels of collecting - not only for novices although a novice should read this book before buying his/her first map! But this is truly a unique map collector's book. It breaks with the classical "map book" style and connects a huge amount of information. That has helped me a lot. I have been a collector for about ten years and I use this book the most of the several dozen I own on antique maps. Practically every question I have had on collecting is dealt with here. The author's style is refreshing and he presents otherwise difficult information very clearly. The book has lots of information, clearly presented, not found in any other map book. I now finally know about acids and what they are! I can now easily tell between lithographs and engravings and etchings just by looking at a map. The sections on paper and vellum, color, folding maps, what determines the value of a map, repairing defects and much more are all presented in the context of the collector's maps. I find the information very practical, a foreign language map dictionary, a glossary and hundreds of fine pictures of maps and details. This book increased my enjoyment of my hobby and will continue to do so. It is not dumbed down. It is refreshing to read and is actually amusing in parts. I met the author at the recent Miami map fair and told him this personally.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very useful, substantial book, March 26, 2002

By	"sidungar23" (New York) - See all my reviews

A book of substance. "Collecting Old Maps" really deals with the subject and is not a watered-down survey of old maps someone thinks we should collect. This book breaks with the old way map books were written and is a refreshing "out of the box" way to look at old map collecting. There is no other book like it and I don't know where else one can get the information that is in here. Very well written, a delight to read and not dumbed-down. There is even some sly humor in here! I agree with the earlier reviews so there is no point in repeating everything they said.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book!, February 20, 2000

By	W.W.L. (Illinois) - See all my reviews

I got this book as a present and am very pleased and impressed. The book has a lot of information that is not in other books about collecting antique maps and that would be very hard to find anywhere else. The author has made difficult subjects very clear and the pictures and diagrams are impressive. The detail shots of different parts of maps and how to distinguish different printing processes are great! I like the sections on paper and vellum and the blow-ups of microscope pictures of paper fibers. The author does not go overboard with science, but puts it into the big picture for the map collector and it has helped me to understand more about the maps I collect. The hundreds of pictures of maps, including showing damage before and after repair are wonderful - this has helped me with my collection and helps me decide whether or not to buy a map that might have some defects. The writing is very good and clear and the entire book is written in a very interesting way. I am much more knowledgeable about my hobby than before and I find the appendixes useful on a regular basis. I enjoy using this book, it is a beautiful book.