Mapping the World: Five Standout Treasures in an Upcoming Antique Map Auction

For collectors, antique maps offer far more than geography. They reveal how earlier generations understood the world, politically, scientifically, imaginatively, and even emotionally. The upcoming Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books auction from Old World Auctions on March 11, 2026 brings together a compelling selection of cartographic works spanning centuries and styles. Below are five highlights that showcase the diversity and artistry of early mapmaking.

Featured Auction Highlights: 

Florence, Italy - Wit - Florentia Pulcherrima Etruriae Civitas
Estimated at $2,400–$3,000, this elegant plan of Florence by Frederik de Wit exemplifies the precision and grandeur of 17th-century Dutch engraving.
Florence is presented in crisp detail, its walls, churches, palaces, and the meandering Arno River meticulously rendered. The title cartouche and decorative elements frame the city as both an artistic and political capital. De Wit’s city plans were prized for their clarity, making them highly desirable among collectors of Italian topography.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this map captures Florence during a period of enduring cultural legacy. For collectors interested in Renaissance history, architectural heritage, or Italian city views, this lot offers both beauty and historical resonance.

- Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books
- Old World Auctions
- March 11, 2026
- Lot 227
- Estimate: $2,400 - $3,000

Europe - Bunting - Europa Prima Pars Terrae in Forma Virginis
Few maps blend theology, allegory, and geography as memorably as Heinrich Bunting’s famous “Europa Regina,” estimated here at $2,000–$2,400.
First published in the late 16th century, this imaginative map depicts Europe as a crowned queen. Spain forms the head, France the torso, and the Italian peninsula extends as an arm holding an orb. The composition reflects the religious worldview of the time, reinforcing Europe’s spiritual centrality during the Reformation era.
Collectors are drawn to this work not only for its rarity but for its storytelling power. It represents a moment when maps were as much symbolic as scientific, visual essays expressing cultural identity and belief. In any collection, Europa Regina stands as a conversation piece.

- Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books
- Old World Auctions
- March 11, 2026
- Lot 143
- Estimate: $2,000 - $2,400

Fictional Map - Lowrey - Geographical Guide to a Man's Heart [and] Woman's Heart
Estimated at $400–$475, this pair of humorous fictional maps offers an accessible and charming entry point into collectible cartography.
Through clever labeling and playful illustration, the maps transform emotional landscapes into geographic terrain. Rivers, mountains, and regions correspond to personality traits and romantic tendencies, reflecting early 20th-century popular culture and gender norms.
While lighter in tone than the earlier lots, these works demonstrate how mapmaking language permeated everyday life. They are ideal for collectors interested in ephemera, decorative art, or giftable historical curiosities.

- Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books
- Old World Auctions
- March 11, 2026
- Lot 18
- Estimate: $400 - $475

Fictional Map - Lawrence - Map Showing Isle of Pleasure
Cartography is not always about accuracy. Sometimes it is about imagination. This whimsical allegorical map, estimated at $1,600–$1,900, charts an invented “Isle of Pleasure” filled with moral commentary and playful satire.
Produced in the early 20th century, it reflects a long tradition of fictional mapping that uses geographic language to explore human behavior. Roads, regions, and landmarks become metaphors, inviting viewers to “navigate” temptation, folly, and indulgence.
Its vibrant design and clever labeling make it visually engaging, while its humor broadens its appeal beyond traditional antique map collectors. Works like this bridge the gap between cartography, graphic art, and social commentary.

- Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books
- Old World Auctions
- March 11, 2026
- Lot 17
- Estimate: $1,600 - $1,900

World - Bailleul - Nouvelle Mappe-Monde avec la Representation des Deux Emispheres Celestes
At the top of the sale’s estimates is this striking double-hemisphere world map by Bailleul, estimated at $4,750–$6,000. This composition reflects the height of 18th-century French decorative cartography, pairing terrestrial geography with celestial hemispheres in an elegant and highly symmetrical design.
The terrestrial hemispheres capture a moment of geographic transition, when coastlines were increasingly accurate, yet still contained intriguing ambiguities. California’s depiction, the shaping of Australia, and the treatment of the Pacific all reveal a world still being refined through exploration. Surrounding the map, allegorical figures and decorative flourishes elevate it beyond a scientific instrument into a work of art.
What distinguishes this example is the integration of the two celestial hemispheres above, reinforcing the Enlightenment-era desire to harmonize earthly and cosmic knowledge. For collectors seeking both visual impact and intellectual substance, this is a centerpiece work.

- Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books
- Old World Auctions
- March 11, 2026
- Lot 9
- Estimate: $4,750 - $6,000

Together, these five lots illustrate the remarkable range of antique cartography, from Renaissance city plans and theological allegories to Enlightenment worldviews and modern satire. Collectors can explore the full sale through Old World Auctions, whose March 11, 2026 auction is hosted online via Bidsquare.com.
Whether your interest lies in fine engraving, historical symbolism, or imaginative storytelling, this auction offers a compelling opportunity to acquire a map that charts more than territory, it captures a moment in how we once saw the world.