About Condition

About Our Condition Reports:

Whenever we discuss 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century maps and books, we try to grade them conservatively and rarely exceed "near excellent" as our highest level. Informed collectors and dealers invariably take into account the sheer age of the item when evaluating antiquarian objects, so that “very good”, “attractive” or "near excellent" condition when used to describe a map or book from, say, 1572 or 1685,  or even 1830, would be for many collectors "outstanding" condition or as close to wonderful as they could reasonably hope to encounter in such an artifact.

In general, we try to under-grade our objects when describing them, so as to leave room on the up-side when you actually receive it. We often say “near fine” or "near excellent" in case someone is thinking in absolute terms, such as an object produced last month. Even relative to modern and newer objects, most of our antique items are in quite nice, visually appealing, or near excellent condition overall. But measured against other similar antique objects produced in this era which have survived, most we buy and sell along are superior, of a condition which comes closest to "ideal" for a reasonable collector. Whenever possible, we pride ourselves for focusing on condition, and using our experience to discern rare objects from the huge flow of lesser or poor quality material which at times drowns the market place.

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 to potential buyers the condition of all of our objects. It is never our intention to purposely omit or conceal flaws and repairs, nor mislead you to think the object is nicer than we say. We want you to be happy when your item(s) arrive, not disappointed. We are seeking to create repeat customers, not single purchase buyers.

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 be found in less than ideal condition, atlases being one, houses another, paintings, books, etc.

If someone were to contend that the condition of our maps or books (as depicted on our website in detail) was not good enough for them upon receipt, one could imagine thinking or suggesting that their collecting standards were somewhat (to almost entirely) unreasonable, of the finding small insignificant flaws and making them in mountains or "looking-for-excuses-to-return-it" variety. The items you see depicted and described on this website will arrive to you just as we represent them.  If your collecting standards are mostly only "perfect" objects without flaw, then we respectfully invite you to move along and order elsewhere.  We are simply selling everything as we found it, as you see it. We’re always trying our best to represent each item correctly, accurately, and conservatively.

In fact, we have ample reason to believe that 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, and want to buy something from us you see depicted on our website or on the internet somewhere else, please browse and buy with confidence - you have come to the right place.