About us
Welcome to the fascinating world of antique maps & old prints!
I'm Richard, founder and owner of antiquemapsandprints.com. I grew up surrounded by antique maps and old prints—my late father, Bill Bennett, was a mail-order map and print dealer from the 1970s, trading as Postaprint. A well-known figure in the trade until his death in 2014, he's still fondly remembered by many long-standing dealers. From an early age, I was immersed in the worlds of cartographers, cartoonists, and 19th-century printmakers. Our double garage was used to store stock, and the house was decorated with Charles Crombie’s sporting prints and a print of a gannet (from Morris’s British Birds) above the dining table—a comment on my appetite!
From Side Hustle to Full-Time Map Geek
In my late teens, I helped out with the family business, but after university I went into the corporate world. At a career crossroads in the late 2000s, my father took me along to a London map fair. I bought a few maps, listed them on eBay—and within a week I was hooked. A map geek was born.
Why I Love Maps and Prints
Maps fascinate me: for the details, for the way they shed light on history, for how they depict the world as it once was—or was imagined to be. I’m especially drawn to errors and the stories behind them. As a Londoner, I’m captivated by early maps of the city, showing fields where streets now run. Antique prints offer similar thrills—glimpses into lost buildings, vanished monuments, and forgotten moments of the past. From the White and Pink Terraces of New Zealand to the Buddhas of Bamiyan, I love picturing what once stood where we now walk.
A Broad and Eclectic Stock
I’m always on the hunt for things I’ve never seen before, and that has shaped our stock. We now hold over 80,000 items, many of which other dealers don’t offer. Some of my favourite pieces are surprisingly inexpensive or recent, like Hugh Evelyn’s 1960s prints of historic sports cars (two of which were on my childhood bedroom wall), or Abercrombie’s unrealised post-WWII plans for London. Our collection spans everything from:
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UK county and US state maps
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French department and wine maps
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Sea charts and star maps
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Town and city plans
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Geological and military maps
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Panoramas, fantasy maps, strip road maps
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Architectural drawings, cartoons, engineering prints
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Antique images of birds, animals, flowers and fruit
We stock original prints and maps from the 16th century through to the mid/late 20th century—never reproductions.
Something for Everyone
Whether you're a private collector, interested in family or local history, buying a personalised gift, or sourcing for museums, media, or interior design, we aim to make our site accessible to all—from curious newcomers to seasoned map aficionados. Our clients include embassies, corporate archives, TV production teams, and the antiques trade. If you're looking for vintage maps or antique prints, we’re always happy to help.
Explore, Discover, Enjoy
Whether buying for yourself or as a gift, we believe there's a map or print of somewhere—or someone—that will mean something special. We offer a personal, friendly service, and we're always available for advice or help finding the right piece.
We update our What’s New page frequently, so visit often to see the latest additions.
We are proud members of the London Topographical Society and IMCoS (International Map Collectors' Society).
Buy Direct for Better Prices
Our full stock is available here and through our eBay store, where we have 99.9% positive feedback from over 30,000 customers (as of October 2024). But if you buy directly through this site, our prices are typically 15% lower than eBay, since we pass on the savings from avoiding third-party fees.
We only sell original maps and prints, and can provide a certificate of authenticity on request.