Page 45 - June 2018 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 45
It Just Walked in the Door
H aving an open shop like I do has its good points and its bad points. Some Fold: These maps and many others were once in atlases and while I do not advise
of the good points are the interesting people and nice things that literally
gutting antique atlases to get the maps, this was common practice years ago and
come in the door. The down side can be the few borderline nut jobs that
probably still is. That way the maps of different parts of the world could be sold
sometimes come in. But fortunately there aren’t many of those, and no one who to specific collectors because someone who collected maps of, say, the Chesapeake
works with the public would be immune to those types. Bay area probably would not be interested in a map of China. While I personally
But back to the fun things – the really interesting books or maps that
would never tear apart an old atlas to get the maps, in the case of this map it was
sometimes show up. Just a few days ago, I got a call from someone who asked me probably done 60 or 70 years ago and well past the statute of limitations if there
if he could bring in an antique map he had. Of course, I said that he could, but is such a thing.
even as I said that I was gearing up to go into my usual spiel when it turned out Given the size of this map it was not practical to bind it up in an atlas
that the map was a reproduction, or in bad shape or otherwise something that I which is why it was folded down the center. Normally you don’t want antique
did not want. That is what usually happens and I try to be as nice about it as I can maps to be folded, but in this case the fold was a sign of its authenticity. Most
because obviously not everyone is knowledgeable about antique maps. reproductions would not be folded. I’ve seen
I was expecting it some reproductions that, although they were flat,
would turn out that this reproduced the shadow image from the fold in
map was a report. So the original.
imagine my surprise when
it turned out to be very Printing: Another giveaway that this map was
interesting. In fact, it was a genuine was that hundreds of years ago, printing
very nice copy of John text was done using type—one piece of type for
Speed’s Map of Virginia each letter—and like the plate mark which left an
and Maryland that was impression in the paper, this old type also leaves
printed in London in, hold a slight impression in the paper, too which can
on to your hats, 1676! be seen if you get light slanting across the paper
It was in an old frame at an angle.
and so normally you would But how could I see that because the map was
almost have to take it out of still framed? That is because the description of
the fame to get a proper what is on the map was printed on the reverse side
look at the paper, or the of the paper which I was able to see on the front
map had been glued on an side. Normally you don’t want to have anything
acidic mat or backboard printed on the back of an antique map, but in this
which often happened back case, it is supposed to be there and is another way
when people didn’t realize that I could tell that it was authentic because
the damage that could do to reproductions would not have the printing on the
otherwise nice old paper. reverse which might spoil the looks of the map.
But in this case, since I
was already familiar with the This map was hand colored as they couldn’t
map and could see that print color images in 1676 unless it was by wood
everything looked right, block, but wood blocks were not used for maps like this as you could get far more
there was no way that this particular example could be a reproduction.
detail with a copperplate than a wood block.
If you could see both this genuine example and a reproduction of it side by Now the dirty secret of the antique map world is that old maps could be sold
colored or uncolored, but since they have such great decorative value, the hand
side, you could tell right away what to look for, but since we can’t do that
it will take a little explaining. colored examples are more valuable than the uncolored ones. So what do you
think happened to the uncolored ones? That’s right – in the 20th century many
Paper: The paper looked right and I’m afraid that’s about all I can say about the antique uncolored maps were colored because they were worth more.
of
Normally, you shouldn’t alter the appearance of antiques, but in this case, IF it is
that because if you’ve seen enough samples of antique rag paper you would
know what it looks like. Also, the size of the paper was right. Anyone can pull a properly done (and it is quite possible to ruin an old map if you don’t know what
blank page out of a book to fake a letter on, but finding genuine old paper this you are doing) the map is worth more.
size is actually quite difficult. And if properly done, sometimes it is very hard to tell if the color is original or
recent. Now, I was sure that while this map did not have original hand coloring
Size: The size of the image was correct as reproductions are often a different size— (which would be the best) it had probably been colored decades ago, which gave
larger or smaller—than the original. Normally no one cares if the reproduction enough time for the color to mellow a but and look oldish.
was not meant to deceive. But that doesn’t mean that someone else later on, by In fact on the back of the frame it still had the oldish-looking label of the map
accident or design, might try to pass off a copy as if it was an original. Knowing dealer who sold it probably in the 1950s.
the original size is one of the many reasons that you need proper reference books. But perhaps most interesting of all, after I bought it, he told me that he had
purchased the map at a yard sale for ten dollars! As a matter of fact, he saw it and
Copper plate: These old maps were usually printed from engraved copper plates then left, but got thinking about it and came back for it. And amazingly it was still
there. Obviously the seller thought it was a repro. So good for him. I was glad that
and that meant that the size was fixed. You can’t shrink or stretch a copper
printing plate without damaging it. To change the size and be able to print it back he had told me that as it made a great story to go with a nice map that just walked
then you’d have to engrave another copper plate – which could be done, but if it in the door.
was it would be noted in your references.
One way that I knew that this map had been printed from a copper plate was
because I could see the plate mark impressed in the paper. The plate mark is the James Dawson has owned and operated the Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe, MD since 1975,
mark left by the edges of the printing plate which would be slightly larger than the when he decided that it would be more fun to buy and sell old books and maps than to get a
outer margin of the image on the map. But yes, sometimes plate marks can be “real” job; having a shop just might be another excuse to buy more books. He has about
30,000 second hand and rare books on the shelves, andjust about all subjects are represented.
faked so a plate mark is not by itself a 100% guarantee. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 154; Trappe, MD. 21673, 410-476-3838;
e-mail: unicornbookshopMD@gmail.com; website: unicornbookshop.com.
June 2019 43
H aving an open shop like I do has its good points and its bad points. Some Fold: These maps and many others were once in atlases and while I do not advise
of the good points are the interesting people and nice things that literally
gutting antique atlases to get the maps, this was common practice years ago and
come in the door. The down side can be the few borderline nut jobs that
probably still is. That way the maps of different parts of the world could be sold
sometimes come in. But fortunately there aren’t many of those, and no one who to specific collectors because someone who collected maps of, say, the Chesapeake
works with the public would be immune to those types. Bay area probably would not be interested in a map of China. While I personally
But back to the fun things – the really interesting books or maps that
would never tear apart an old atlas to get the maps, in the case of this map it was
sometimes show up. Just a few days ago, I got a call from someone who asked me probably done 60 or 70 years ago and well past the statute of limitations if there
if he could bring in an antique map he had. Of course, I said that he could, but is such a thing.
even as I said that I was gearing up to go into my usual spiel when it turned out Given the size of this map it was not practical to bind it up in an atlas
that the map was a reproduction, or in bad shape or otherwise something that I which is why it was folded down the center. Normally you don’t want antique
did not want. That is what usually happens and I try to be as nice about it as I can maps to be folded, but in this case the fold was a sign of its authenticity. Most
because obviously not everyone is knowledgeable about antique maps. reproductions would not be folded. I’ve seen
I was expecting it some reproductions that, although they were flat,
would turn out that this reproduced the shadow image from the fold in
map was a report. So the original.
imagine my surprise when
it turned out to be very Printing: Another giveaway that this map was
interesting. In fact, it was a genuine was that hundreds of years ago, printing
very nice copy of John text was done using type—one piece of type for
Speed’s Map of Virginia each letter—and like the plate mark which left an
and Maryland that was impression in the paper, this old type also leaves
printed in London in, hold a slight impression in the paper, too which can
on to your hats, 1676! be seen if you get light slanting across the paper
It was in an old frame at an angle.
and so normally you would But how could I see that because the map was
almost have to take it out of still framed? That is because the description of
the fame to get a proper what is on the map was printed on the reverse side
look at the paper, or the of the paper which I was able to see on the front
map had been glued on an side. Normally you don’t want to have anything
acidic mat or backboard printed on the back of an antique map, but in this
which often happened back case, it is supposed to be there and is another way
when people didn’t realize that I could tell that it was authentic because
the damage that could do to reproductions would not have the printing on the
otherwise nice old paper. reverse which might spoil the looks of the map.
But in this case, since I
was already familiar with the This map was hand colored as they couldn’t
map and could see that print color images in 1676 unless it was by wood
everything looked right, block, but wood blocks were not used for maps like this as you could get far more
there was no way that this particular example could be a reproduction.
detail with a copperplate than a wood block.
If you could see both this genuine example and a reproduction of it side by Now the dirty secret of the antique map world is that old maps could be sold
colored or uncolored, but since they have such great decorative value, the hand
side, you could tell right away what to look for, but since we can’t do that
it will take a little explaining. colored examples are more valuable than the uncolored ones. So what do you
think happened to the uncolored ones? That’s right – in the 20th century many
Paper: The paper looked right and I’m afraid that’s about all I can say about the antique uncolored maps were colored because they were worth more.
of
Normally, you shouldn’t alter the appearance of antiques, but in this case, IF it is
that because if you’ve seen enough samples of antique rag paper you would
know what it looks like. Also, the size of the paper was right. Anyone can pull a properly done (and it is quite possible to ruin an old map if you don’t know what
blank page out of a book to fake a letter on, but finding genuine old paper this you are doing) the map is worth more.
size is actually quite difficult. And if properly done, sometimes it is very hard to tell if the color is original or
recent. Now, I was sure that while this map did not have original hand coloring
Size: The size of the image was correct as reproductions are often a different size— (which would be the best) it had probably been colored decades ago, which gave
larger or smaller—than the original. Normally no one cares if the reproduction enough time for the color to mellow a but and look oldish.
was not meant to deceive. But that doesn’t mean that someone else later on, by In fact on the back of the frame it still had the oldish-looking label of the map
accident or design, might try to pass off a copy as if it was an original. Knowing dealer who sold it probably in the 1950s.
the original size is one of the many reasons that you need proper reference books. But perhaps most interesting of all, after I bought it, he told me that he had
purchased the map at a yard sale for ten dollars! As a matter of fact, he saw it and
Copper plate: These old maps were usually printed from engraved copper plates then left, but got thinking about it and came back for it. And amazingly it was still
there. Obviously the seller thought it was a repro. So good for him. I was glad that
and that meant that the size was fixed. You can’t shrink or stretch a copper
printing plate without damaging it. To change the size and be able to print it back he had told me that as it made a great story to go with a nice map that just walked
then you’d have to engrave another copper plate – which could be done, but if it in the door.
was it would be noted in your references.
One way that I knew that this map had been printed from a copper plate was
because I could see the plate mark impressed in the paper. The plate mark is the James Dawson has owned and operated the Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe, MD since 1975,
mark left by the edges of the printing plate which would be slightly larger than the when he decided that it would be more fun to buy and sell old books and maps than to get a
outer margin of the image on the map. But yes, sometimes plate marks can be “real” job; having a shop just might be another excuse to buy more books. He has about
30,000 second hand and rare books on the shelves, andjust about all subjects are represented.
faked so a plate mark is not by itself a 100% guarantee. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 154; Trappe, MD. 21673, 410-476-3838;
e-mail: unicornbookshopMD@gmail.com; website: unicornbookshop.com.
June 2019 43
