agora_oldprints_and_maps

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agora_oldprints_and_maps

Maps and old prints for;collectors, designers and time travelers

08/07/2026

Johann Baptist Homann – Panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Map (c. 1720)

This rare piece, newly added to our collection, is a fascinating map of Istanbul and the Bosphorus by Johann Baptist Homann, the master who launched the golden age of German cartography.
Dating back to around 1720 (the early years of the Tulip Period), this work delivers a flawless Baroque aesthetic across three magnificent layers:
1️⃣ The Central Bosphorus Map: A captivating maritime route stretching from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, distinguished by its beautiful, original period hand-coloring.
2️⃣ The Dardanellen Cartouche: A magnificent inset frame adorned with Janissary and soldier figures, showcasing the strategic castles of the Dardanelles.
3️⃣ The Grand Istanbul Panorama: A sweeping skyline viewed from Pera, featuring the Galata Tower, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Suleymaniye Mosque, all detailed via a 30-item index.
✨ Condition Note: The artwork has been finely trimmed to its original neatline and professionally laid onto archival rag paper for long-term preservation. With absolutely no loss to its imagery, this rare piece features exceptionally vibrant colors and will look like a true gallery masterpiece once framed.
📐 58 cm x 49 cm
🏷️ SKU: AGR-1720-IST01
For inquiries, details, or to add this rare piece to your collection, feel free to reach out via DM or visit our website. 🏛️

26/06/2026

John Speed’s carte à figure map of the Roman Empire, titled: A New Mappe of the Romane Empire.

Speed’s ‘carte à figure’ map of the Roman Empire, with ten costume vignettes along the side borders and six bird’s-eye city views across the top edge. It features finely engraved galleons and sea monsters sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. Charted to reflect the golden age of the Roman Empire (Pax Romana) during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, the map includes intriguing nomenclature, such as the Mediterranean explicitly named “The Middle Land Sea”, alongside “The Euxine Sea” (Black Sea) and “The Caspian Sea”. A decorative historical cartouche at the bottom, flanked by camels and a lion, chronicles the rise of the empire.
Engraved on copperplate with period-appropriate hand coloring, this genuine late 17th-century engraving was published in London in 1676 by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell for the final edition of the Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World.

This original antique map was part of our collection and is now SOLD.

Based in Amsterdam, Agora Old Prints & Maps specializes in antique maps and rare engravings, working closely with collectors worldwide.

23/06/2026

A map traces not only boundaries but also the intellectual vision of its era.
This 1676 work by John Speed, who brought early English cartography to its pinnacle, was one of the high status symbols of the 17th-century European aristocracy. Only royalty, aristocrats, wealthy merchants, and high-level intellectuals (such as noblemen famous for their libraries) could purchase and display them in their homes.
Moving far beyond the period of its publication, the work charts the golden age of the Roman Empire during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD (Pax Romana), its most magnificent and stable era.
Featuring bird’s-eye views of six major imperial centers, such as Constantinople, Rome, and Venice along its upper border, the map illustrates traditional costumes along its side panels, while depicting legendary sea monsters and sailing ships across its open seas, transforming geography into a living record of anthropology and exploration.
With its nomenclature viewing the Mediterranean as the absolute heart of civilization, it remains a timeless mirror held up to history.

15/06/2026

You are invited to follow the route where Ponce de León searched for the legendary “Fountain of Youth”! 🗺️✨

This fascinating map, newly added to the Agora Old Prints & Maps collection, was drawn in 1754 by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, the chief hydrographer of the French Royal Navy.

Created using secret charts from the French naval archives, this map carefully shows the historic route (Route de Ponce de Leon) of Juan Ponce de León, the first European to set foot in Florida in 1513. The heart of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Florida are all here, featuring Bellin’s famous signature pointed peninsula shape. 🌴⚓

With its hand-colored, Rococo-style cartouche in the top right corner, this piece is both a historical document and a unique work of art to decorate your wall.

Click the link in our bio to browse our collection and get more information, or just send us a DM! 📥

11/06/2026

🏛️ The immortal spirit of the ancient world through 18th-century eyes: Ephesus.

For centuries, Ephesus stood as the grandest cultural and commercial powerhouse of the Mediterranean. Even after its bustling harbor fell silent, its ruins continued to captivate the imagination of early European scholars. Published in Leiden, Netherlands, circa 1721-1725, this authentic hand-colored copperplate engraving is a striking testament to that timeless fascination, based on the celebrated accounts of Pitton de Tournefort and Augustin Calmet.

Spanning a history of over 290 years, this original piece stands as a multi-layered document of early archaeological history.

The composition seamlessly combines an early panoramic view with detailed archaeological studies:

The Bird’s-Eye View: The upper section depicts the Citadel of Ayasuluk (modern-day Selçuk), the ruins of the Church of St. John, and the winding Kaystros (Küçük Menderes) River flowing toward the Aegean Sea as it appeared in its quiet 18th-century state.

The Temple of Artemis (Bottom Left): A historical reconstruction of the lost Wonder of the Ancient World, rendered precisely according to the architectural texts of the Roman author Vitruvius. Drawn long before modern excavations began, it remains a unique illustration inspired by classical texts.

The Cult Statue of Diana Ephesia (Bottom Right): The kinswoman and protectress of the city, the iconic multi-breasted goddess of fertility, adorned with her ceremonial polos (tower crown) and traditional animal relief carvings, inspired by ancient coins and Roman copies.

Measuring 32 x 43 cm (sheet size: 39.5 x 53.5 cm), this original antique print stands as a timeless masterpiece for collectors wishing to bring the indelible spirit of ancient cities into their living spaces.

Available via the link in our bio or via DM for inquiries. 📦

05/06/2026

A rare and fascinating thematic world map printed in Ottoman Turkish script (Arabic alphabet) between 1920 and 1928. The main title of the map reads “Topraktan İstifade” (طوپراق دن استفاده), which translates to “Land Utilization / Soil Exploitation”.
The map uses a detailed color-coded system to illustrate global vegetation, agricultural zones, forests, and arid lands across the continents. The extensive statistical chart at the bottom breaks down land usage percentages for Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and Australia. Printed via authentic chromolithography just before Turkey’s 1928 Alphabet Reform.
Specifications:
* Region: The World (Global)
* Language: Ottoman Turkish
* Date: c. 1920 - 1928
* Dimensions: Approximately 20 cm x 18 cm
* Technique: Original Chromolithography (Color stone print)
* Condition: Good antique condition with a clean center fold as issued, minor age-toning, and light wear on the borders. Colors remain vibrant.

18/05/2026

Carta Figurata d’Europa 1888. La Pacifica Baracca.
An Italian version of Hadol’s separate-issue caricature map of Europe, first published in 1870 at the time of the Franco-Prussian war.
The countries are caricatured with stereotypes: England is a crone with Ireland a dog on a lead, angry at being ignored by the rest of Europe; France and Prussia square up, preparing for the war that started in July that year; Prussia has one hand on the Netherlands and kneels on Austria’s chest; Denmark has artificial legs, having lost Holstein also to Prussia; and Russia looks on, hoping to pick up the pieces left by Europe’s struggles..

~SOLD~

05/05/2026

Rising at the entrance of the harbor of Smyrna (Izmir), Sancak Castle was one of the key elements of the Ottoman Empire’s trade and security system in the 17th century.

In this engraving by Cornelis de Bruyn, the castle is shown at the edge of the bay, like a watchful guard controlling all ships entering and leaving the port.

Sancak Castle was not only a military structure; it also played an important role in customs control, checking goods and ships coming into Izmir. In Smyrna, one of the busiest trade centers of the Eastern Mediterranean, this modest but strategic building was essential to the empire’s economic power.

Although the castle no longer survives today, this engraving allows us to rediscover both its structure and its strong presence over the harbor.

🗺️ A window into the past, showing more than just a castle: trade, control, and power.

Technique: Copper engraving
Date: 1678 (published 1698)
Book: Cornelis de Bruyn, Reizen van Cornelis de Bruyn door de vermaardste Deelen van Klein Asia
Dimensions: 20x33,5cm

This piece is part of the Agora Old Prints and Maps collection. Feel free to contact us for inquiries.

17/04/2026

Cyprus — A Map Full of Stories 🏝️

A charming illustrated historical map of Cyprus by John Sabry, created during the British Occupation period.

This delightful postcard is more than a map. It’s a miniature world:

⛵ Sailing ships drift across the Mediterranean
🐉 Sea creatures rise from the depths in true old-map tradition
🛡️ Heraldic coats of arms reflect the island’s layered history
🏰 Castles, monasteries, and cities bring Cyprus to life in fine detail

And in the corner, a poetic reminder:

✨ “Venus, Goddess of Beauty & Love, was born out of sea foam”

📜 Historical Dates
Byzantine — 395–1184
Richard the Lionheart — 1191–1192
Lusignans — 1192–1489
Venetians — 1488–1571
Ottoman — 1571–1878
British Occupation — 1878–1960

📏 Size: 8 × 14 cm

A small piece, yet filled with history, mythology, and imagination a beautiful addition for collectors of antique maps and ephemera.

Adres

Amsterdam

Website

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AgoraOldPrintandMap?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1093990440

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