Explanation of Condition:

Whenever we talk about 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century maps and books, we try to grade them conservatively and almost never exceed "near excellent" as our highest grade.  One must always take into account the sheer age of the item, so that "near excellent" used to describe a map or book from, say, 1572 or 1685, would be for many collectors "outstanding" or as close to wonderful as they can reasonably hope to encounter. We try to under-grade so as to leave room on the up-side when you actually receive it. We say "near excellent" in case someone is thinking in absolute terms, such as an object produced last month. Relative to a new object, most of our items are in nice, attractive, near to excellent condition. But measured against other objects produced in this era which have survived, most are superior, of a condition which comes closest to "ideal" for a reasonable collector.

As an aside, we'd also like to point out that minor repairs to fine old maps and books are not always a bad thing. Many antiquarian objects (paintings, furniture, houses, books, maps, etc.) can be quite beautiful and valuable even with minor repairs, particularly if the repairs do not detract visually and are done properly with care and skill.  We are, after all, often talking about fragile, individual sheets of paper and hand bound leather and cloth objects which are over 200 years old, sometimes 300 or 400 years old. Indeed, many museums own many maps and books which are less interesting historically, less appealing, and in worse condition than many of the ones found on this website. Our own experience tells us that many beautiful, rare and valuable antiquarian objects have repairs of one type or another on the reverse, and this is not, in and of itself, sufficient reason to reject an item. Many items are only to found in less than ideal condition, atlases being one, houses another, paintings, books, etc.

Many of the maps and books we offer  are as close to "fine antiquarian condition" as could reasonably be expected.  Most would please virtually every institution and reasonable collector in the world. We try very hard to accurately report the condition of all of our objects.  It is never our intention to purposely omit or conceal flaws and repairs.  We want you to be happy when the item(s) arrive, not disappointed. 

If someone contends that the condition of our maps or books was not good enough for them, one could counter their standards are somewhat (to completely) unreasonable, of the "looking-for -excuses-to-return-it" variety.  If your standards are "perfect" without flaw, then we respectfully invite you to move along and order elsewhere.  In fact,  most people are delighted with what they acquire from us, and we rarely hear anything to the contrary.  If you are a reasonable collector of nice antiquarian books and maps, please browse with confidence - you have come to the right place.