It’s a bit of history that you soak in when you pick up the colourful, tattered piece of paper. For those easily charmed by old times, stores in Delhi selling vintage maps are treasure troves.
Maps and atlases that once served navigational purposes are now not only a collector’s delight but also a viable investment option. Kusum Jain’s Cottage of Arts and Jewels, houses her grandfather’s collection in Hauz Khas Village. “Europeans were my biggest clients before the economy crisis. Now there are many Indians who recognize the value of these maps,” she says.
Her assortment varies from ancient facsimiles of Greek charts to colonial depictions of India. A printed reproduction would typically cost around Rs 1000- 1500 whereas the costs for original ones are unmarked and are sold depending on the time period and their rarity.
Although items over 100 years old cannot be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, sites auctioning vintage maps are bustling with activity. A quick search on eBay would give one a fair idea of the prices and maps most sought after cartographers. But confirming the authenticity of these articles purchased online might be cumbersome for buyers.
“Vintage maps are not only for aesthetes and collectors. The return on their investment is often what buyers look for”, says Sanjiv Jain as he lets us take a glimpse of his family’s collection. The Jain family run South Ex Books and Prints’ store is an equal delight for a collector as well as a student of history.
Apart from little stores hidden across Delhi, junkyard booksellers in Daryaganj have something to offer too. Although it is a test of strength on a summer afternoon to visit the place, vintage maps often discarded unknowingly make their way here. The Survey of India office in Janpath also has on sale a decent collection of vintage maps and some maps that fall under the non-classified category of National Map Policy are also available for download for a premium on their website.
