Collecting Old Maps

Someone in my office building walked by my door the other day and noticed the reproduction maps I have hanging on the wall. This person was a true map collector. We got talking about good books for the beginning collector. She recommended Collecting Old Maps by Francis J. Manasek. I rushed home to order the book on amazon only to find out it cost $185. Before I shell out that kind of money for a book, I would like to know what is so great about it. It has a 5 star rating on amazon but only a few people have logged it in here at librarything. Can anyone tell me about the book? What is so special about it?

It's $470 from a vendor at BN.COM. The book dates from 1998; it might be worthwhile checking with the publisher about the possibility of a new edition. I am not a map collector, but the big books in the areas in which I collect tend to be that expensive and pretty much worth it. They are expensive to produce with big color plates, excellent bindings, and limited demand. The rating at BN.COM was five stars with an enthusiastic review.

Robert

Anyone still checking this list.
I am also a map collector. But not of ancient maps.
I have collected National Geographic maps and supplement items.
Is anyone else a collector of Nat Geo Maps?

The Nat Geographic maps for the 20th century were among the best maps in the world. They found uses in war and peace and set standards of accuracy that are hard to find today. I started collecting them pre-internet by combing used bookstores mostly. I have written a Collectors Guide to National Geographic Supplements, including in addition to the magazine supplements, all the book supplements for both adult and children's books, atlases, atlas supplements and other misc. supplement maps distributed by the NG Society. If anyone is interested let me know

bluejw

Just a follow-up on my search for Collecting old Maps by Francis J. Manasek. I finally found one on eBay. It cost me $25 plus postage. It still had its dust jacket was in excellent condition. What a deal considering some of the prices I was seeing at book sites. I already read it cover to cover. It is very interesting. I learned a lot about maps.

>4 Vic33: bluejw: I am a beginner at collecting maps. I've bought a couple older maps but I also have a lot of vintage road maps.

These aren't old maps but it is relevant to the thread.

Map porn:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/maps-you-never-knew-you-needed?sub=2043479_9149...

>5 Garp83:
Fascinating map porn!
I was amazed at how many countries England has invaded over the centuries. A similar map based on invasions by the USA would be equally fascinating.

indeed ... my favorite was the writing systems map, altho the "hoes map" made me LOL

I lost an hour of my life to those maps

Had to look up Wikipedia to find out who Ludacris was, and what hoes and Craigslist were. We are a bit isolated from American "culture" in the antipodes.
Weirdly, the first time I ever had McDonalds was in Iran, where they are now banned.

trust me those are the least weird things about America --

Map #27 How lucky can South Korea get? And, at the dead end of the peninsula, no less.

With regard to map #27 (countries that have a land border with only one other country) Qatar was overlooked. It only borders onto Saudi Arabia, although there are Bahraini islands nearby.

>12 wcarter: Good point