The 22nd annual edition of the Ancient Geographical Map Exhibition, also known as the “Paris Map Fair,” will take place on Saturday. November 4. Hours are 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Naturally, it is held in Paris, at its usual location, the Ambassador Hotel, 16 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009. Admission is free.
There will also be a cocktail party the night before, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. This is an excellent time for collectors to meet dealers in an informal setting. There will be an open bar from 7:00 – 8:00. It is held in the Salon Mogador at the Hotel Ambassador. Reservations are required. You can make reservations at the following link: www.map-fair.com/Reservation-cocktail.html
Exhibitors will be displaying geographical maps, plans, views and atlases from the 16th-19th century. You will also find compasses, astrolabes, terrestrial and celestial globes. Free estimates and expertise will be provided for your maps.
The fair will again have a theme, this time “The Earth Beneath Our Feet – Geological Maps.” This exhibit features 19th century geological maps, often used for exploring for natural resources. The exhibitors note that, “Geology was the exciting new science of the nineteenth century, just like space exploration or biotechnology in the twentieth century. New concepts emerged regarding extraordinarily long periods of time, strange extinct creatures, systematic methods of exploring for economic minerals.” While these maps were of practical use, they often looked more like works of art. Colors shown to distinguish rock layers and other features often used vibrant colors, such as the map shown on this page.
Exhibitors will be attending from ten countries, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, South Korea and the United States. The list of exhibitors is:
France: Paris: Librairie Le Bail, Librairie Loeb-Larocque, Pingel Rare Books, Sylvie and Roland Rossignol.
Canada: Vetus Carta Rare Maps, Ottawa.
United States: Barry Ruderman - La Jolla, CA, Geographicus Rare Antique Maps - New York, RD Rare Books and Maps - Pasadena, CA, Neatline Antique Maps - Tiburon CA.
Netherlands : Paulus Swaen – Amsterdam, Paul Bremmers Antiquariaat – Maastricht, Antiquariaat De Roo, Zwijndrecht. Dat Narrenship - Middelburg.
Belgium : Sanderus - Ghent, Carta Historica – Tervuren, Il Labirinto - Sint-Denijs-Westtrem, BIMCC - Brussels.
Germany : Antik Sommer - Munich, Norbert Haas - Bedburg-Hau, Enotria - St. Wendel, Antiquariat Reinhold Berg - Regensburg, Götzfried Antique Maps - Tettnang.
Italy : Studio Bibliografico Morghen - Rome, Old Times - Pérouges, Sergio Trippini – Gavirate, Leg Antiqua Ossola - Gorizia - Sante Trinca - Albano Laziale
ALDE, Apr. 8: GUEVARA (ANTONIO DE). Histoire de Marc-Aurèle, Empereur Romain, vray miroir et horloge des Princes. Paris, Pierre et Galliot du Pré, frères, 1565. €3,000 to €4,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: HEURES DE LA VIERGE. Horæ in laudem beatissimæ virginis Mariæ ad usum Romanum. Paris, Charles L'Angelier, 1556. €4,000 to €5,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: MONTAIGNE (MICHEL DE). Les Essais. Édition nouvelle, trouvée après le deceds de l'autheur… Paris, Abel L'Angelier, 1595. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [ROJAS (FERNANDO DE)]. Celestina, tragicomedia di Calisto et Melibea, tradotta de lingua castigliana in italiano idioma… Venise, 1531. €2,000 to €3,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CAMÕES (LUÍS DE). Os Lusiadas. Lisbonne, Pedro Crasbeeck, 1613. €2,000 to €3,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CERVANTES (MIGUEL DE). El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Bruxelles, Roger Velpius & Huberto Antonio, 1611. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: LA FONTAINE (JEAN DE). Fables choisies, mises en vers. Paris, Denys Thierry et Claude Barbin, 1678-1694. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CERVANTES (MIGUEL DE). El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Madrid, Joaquin Ibarra, 1780. €3,000 to €4,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: DIDEROT (DENIS) ET JEAN LE ROND D'ALEMBERT. Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Paris, 1751-1765. €15,000 to €20,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [LIVRE TISSÉ]. LAMARTINE (Alphonse de). Les Laboureurs. Poème tiré de Jocelyn… Lyon, J. A. Henry, 1883. €8,000 to €10,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [LIVRE TISSÉ]. Livre de prières tissé d'après les enluminures des manuscrits du XIVe au XVIe siècle. Lyon, [A. Roux], 1886. €5,000 to €6,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections Open for Bidding 2-17 April
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: [Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun]. Le Roman de la Rose, [Geneva or Lyons, c.1481], first printed edition of the most important medieval French vernacular poem. £200,000 to £300,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: Castiglione. Il libro del cortegiano. [Venice], April 1528, first edition, in a magnificent binding by Jean Picard for Jean Grolier. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: Jacobus de Cessolis. Schachzabelbuch, Strasbourg, 1483, von der Lasa copy. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: World Championship, 1972. A collection of 84 press photographs of the famed match between Spassky and Fischer. £2,000 to £3,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: Ben Franklin. Autograph letter signed, to Lord Shelburne, British Prime Minister, during peace negotiations, November 1782. £15,000 to £20,000.