Press
The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) is once again the venue for the London Map Fair - Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June.
London is the centre of the antiquarian book and map trade, and in June it hosts the largest selection of antique maps for sale anywhere on earth; bringing together around 40 of the leading international antiquarian map dealers as well as hundreds of visiting collectors, curators and map aficionados from all parts of the world.
The fair also attracts first-time visitors and buyers who come to learn and explore this intriguing subject, by talking to experts, handling original material, and attending talks and lectures.
A veritable treasure trove, the fair gives collectors the chance to pick up some exceptional and beautiful pieces without necessarily having to spend a fortune. Many visitors also come to find maps to give as unique and memorable presents.
A large selection of original antique maps will be for sale, ranging in age from the 15 th C. to the 20 th C., covering all parts of the world and priced to suit all pockets: from £10 to £500,000. Exhibitors will also offer: atlases, travel books, globes, sea charts, town plans, topographical prints, reference books and related ephemera.
As always, maps by famous sixteenth and seventeenth century cartographers such as Mercator, Ortelius, Blaeu and John Speed will be well represented. There will also be unusual twentieth century pieces, including this morale-boosting WW1 caricature map (above), published by G.W. Bacon in 1914. The title is the old nursery rhyme "Hark! Hark! The Dogs do Bark!" and the various belligerent powers are shown as dogs - a British bulldog, French poodle, German dachsund and Austrian mongrel - scrapping at the outbreak of war.
And then there is this curious educational celestial map: 'A transparent chart of the heavens' published by James Reynolds c. 1850. It is printed on card and pierced with holes of different sizes, so that when held up to the light it is possible to see the stars which would be visible on any clear night in Britain. Part of a growing market for educational maps in the home, affordable for the Victorian middle classes, the idea was to learn the layout of the stars in the British night sky before going outside to see for oneself.
This year’s Guest Speaker is Peter Barber speaking on "The Cartomania of George III and how the British Library plans to unveil its results to the world".
There will also be talks by Ashley Baynton-Williams throughout the weekend on map collecting for beginners.
The Map Fair is masterminded by three map dealers: Tim Bryars of Tim Bryars Ltd., Massimo De Martini of Altea Antique Maps & Old Charts and Rainer Voigt of Garwood & Voigt. Tim Bryars and Massimo de Martini are available for interview.
Please note: There are more maps available for illustration purposes.
For further information please contact Gina Rozner at Giant Rooster PR. Gina@giantroosterpr.co.uk - 07887 811806
Notes to Editors
Now in its 31st year, the London Map Fair is the oldest and largest specialist fair of its kind in Europe. Leading international map dealers exhibit annually in the historic surroundings of the Royal Geographical Society, Kensington Gore.
Saturday 8th June 12.00 – 19.00 and Sunday 9th June 10.00 – 17.00 (Free Admission) at:
The Royal Geographical Society (RGS),
1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR
The RGS building is conveniently located at the edge of Hyde Park,?next to the Royal Albert Hall and close to the Victoria & Albert?Museum, Harrods, Knightsbridge and the West End.
About the speakers:
Peter Barber is Head of Map Collections at the British Library, a leading authority on all things cartographic and curator of our national map collection, which currently boasts 4.5 million maps and atlases. At its heart are the tens of thousands of maps assembled by George III, known as the King's Topographical Collection. George was a dedicated cartophile and some of the items he collected are unique survivals. The British Library has launched an exciting new appeal to catalogue, conserve and digitise this world-class collection to bring it to the widest possible audience. The London Map Fair is proud to support the project.
Ashley Baynton-Williams is an author and mapseller; the third generation of his family to work in the field of antiquarian maps.
For further information please visit our website:
The 2013 Map Fair list of exhibitors can be found at: http://www.londonmapfairs.com/exhibitors.php
For further information please contact Gina Rozner at Giant Rooster PR. Gina@giantroosterpr.co.uk - 07887 811806
