|
|
|
Gift Giving Guide For Guys
Holiday gift shopping for your sweetheart can seem to be a difficult task, and many men put it off until Christmas Eve because of this. Knowing a few basics about the art of selecting a gift for a woman can help make your shopping trip more...
Men's Jewelry: It's Not Just for Women Anymore
Find out what mens jewelry is in, what to buy for a loved one and more! People often associate the term "jewelry" with something a woman possesses and covets. Yet for centuries mens jewelry has been fashionable and popular among elite and average...
Preparing A Layette For Your New Baby
First of all, in case you do not know, what is a layette? Well, the definition of layette is quite simple: a kit consisting of a complete outfit (clothing and accessories) for a new baby. Whether your new baby is going to be your first or fifth,...
Rainy Day Fun - Crafts For Kids
Rainy days can be so boring for a child…and just as hard on moms. So we give some ideas to brighten your day and chase their rainy day blues away!
Shadow puppets
In a room that is fairly dark set up a flash light so it is facing a wall....
Wedding Practices American Style
Residing in the United States makes one feel liberated - in
other words free to do whatever you want, free to live your
life, freedom of love, and free to make your own choices
allowing you to break all traditions. There are a great...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANTIQUE MAPS & PRINTS – UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFTS WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH
Stumped this holiday season for what to give that “person with everything?” One category of gift that can be found in almost every price range is a genuine antique map or print. Presented framed or matted, or simply “as is,” an antique map or print is a gift that can be tailored for any individual on your list, and it’s a gift that will stand out for its thoughtfulness and uniqueness.
Sound expensive? Well, it can be of course, but you may be surprised to learn that antique prints of all kinds can be quite affordable, sometimes starting as low as $25. And yes, they are still the “real thing” – antique, printed works of art on paper, usually hand-colored at the time of publication, and generally more than 100 years old.
The collecting of antique maps and prints is an old pursuit, and one that has been practiced for centuries. This is one of the reasons why there is a well-established worldwide market. Most antique maps and prints on the market today began life as a page in a book – perhaps an atlas, or a book of botanical prints, or a natural history book. But don’t be put off by the fact that these prints (plates, as they are known in collecting circles) are derived from books. Antique books are very different from the books of today. The pages were printed by a less automated method, sometimes even on a hand-operated press. Illustrated pages (the prints we collect today) were printed separately from the text pages, and, if color was needed, each page was individually hand-colored. These very small print runs were then collated and bound into books, often with a beautiful leather binding. Over the centuries, books were broken apart, and the prints have been circulated ever since. In terms of origin, there is no substantive difference between a large, genuine Audubon print selling for tens of thousands of dollars and a fifty dollar antique print from a lesser known bird book.
The most compelling reason for considering an antique map or antique print as a gift is that it can truly be personalized for just about anyone on your list. First, it’s obvious that everyone is from somewhere, which means that an antique map of a hometown or country is always a fascinating gift for the recipient. For the United States, it is almost always possible to find a mid-19th century state map, and frequently, town and regional maps as well. If you are looking for an antique map from overseas, choices abound, with country and regional maps from every part of the world (or the known world, depending on the year of publication) and from all time periods.
Antique maps of the home town or “the old country” are just the beginning when it comes to personalizing a gift. Different genres of maps appeal to different people – for example, antique harbor charts or sea charts for the sailors on your list, antique geological maps for rock collectors, antique island maps for travelers, and so on. Turning to antique prints, another world opens up. Antique botanical prints – often with gorgeous hand coloring – are perfect for gardeners and plant lovers; antique exploration prints for outdoor enthusiasts, antique historical
prints, antique fashion prints, antique architectural prints, antique racehorse prints, culinary prints, butterfly prints, nautical prints, sporting prints, even shimmering, illuminated manuscript pages, and much more, are all available. The list, in effect, is almost endless. It is difficult to conceive of the person who, when presented with an antique print that reflects their special interest, could fail to be gratified and made to feel a little more special.
Be creative about your gift list. When choosing an antique map, hometowns and states are the most popular, but also consider college towns, honeymoon spots, favorite vacation places, and so forth. If you’re considering a print, then just think about your recipient’s favorite hobby, food, sport, avocation, or other pastime. It is guaranteed that over the centuries, other people have enjoyed the same things, and the perfect, hand-colored print will be out there.
Where to find antique maps and prints and what to look for? Without question, the internet has revolutionized this field, which for centuries was conducted in dusty old bookshops, antique stores, and by dealer catalog. Dealers abound on the internet, and search engines such as Google or Yahoo. will allow you to access hundreds of antique map and print websites. Begin by visiting a variety of dealer sites. A site such as VintageMaps.com, an internet-based antique map and print dealer since 1997, will give you a feel for the type of material available. When visiting sites, you should feel free to contact the dealer and ask questions about maps or prints that interest you. Make sure that the dealer will provide a signed statement of authenticity, and that the condition of the print is at least “very good.” A “money-back” guarantee of satisfaction is also usual practice among reputable dealers. If you are considering buying in an online auction, you need to be very careful. You can’t be sure that the seller is providing accurate information, and there is no question of returning an item if it’s not satisfactory. When it comes to buying from an online auction, it’s “buyer beware.”
If you plan to frame an antique print as a gift, the work is best done by a local framer whom you trust. Ordering your framing job over the internet is usually not a good choice – the appearance of the frame and the quality of materials are hard to judge on a screen. So leave an extra three weeks for the framing work. Finally, remember that the more specific the requirements you demand of an antique map or print, the earlier you will want to begin searching for it. Dealers are at their busiest around holiday times, so start your shopping early. Happy hunting.
About the Author
Neil Street is owner of VintageMaps.com, based in Wilton, CT., an antique map and antique print website selling antique maps from around the world and a wide variety of antique prints. His website is at
VintageMaps.com. Send email to
ncstreet@vintagemaps.com. He can also be reached at (203)856-1755.
|
|
|
|
|
| fashion net - the guide to all things chic |
| Directory of selected chic fashion, art, luxury, shopping, and work sites. [English and Japanese] |
| www.fashion.net |
|
| Fashion TV - HOME |
| International TV channel dedicated to fashion, broadcasts 24 hours a day on satellites and cable systems. Site features programs and lots of info on fashion ... |
| www.ftv.com |
|
| Style.com: the online home of Vogue and W; Fashion, Fashion Shows ... |
| Portal of Vogue and W magazines. Detailed coverage of designer runway collections and style news with a list of job opportunities and links to other Condé ... |
| www.style.com |
|
| Vogue Articles, Features, and More on Style.com |
| Magazine features and articles, fashion show coverage, celebrity style, fashion trend reports, party and award show coverage, shopping guides, and more. ... |
| www.style.com |
|
| Fashion for women -- fashion designers, latest trends, fashion tips |
| Fashion for women: a comprehensive guide to everything about women's fashion including current fashion trends, information about fashion designers, ... |
| fashion.about.com |
|
| Fashion & Style - New York Times |
| Fashion & Style · Dining & Wine · Home & Garden · Weddings & Celebrations · Travel · Jobs · Real Estate · Autos · Comedy on the Hot Seat. By ALLEN SALKIN ... |
| www.nytimes.com |
|
| Fashion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| The term "fashion" is frequently used in a positive sense, as a synonym for ... In this sense, fashions are a sort of communal art, through which a culture ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
|
| fashionoffice.org : trends in fashion - Europe . America . Asia |
| fashion magazine - international trends in fashion, style, design, photo, film, art, beauty. catwalk TV, shows, photo stories from New York, Paris, London, ... |
| www.fashion.at |
|
| Fashion, from the concrete to the catwalk | fuk.co.uk |
| London designer interviews and runway archive, photo shoots, street style, weekly updated news and a fashion clinic. |
| www.fuk.co.uk |
|
| FASHION Magazine |
| The web component of Canada's general fashion title, with fashion, beauty, gift ideas and online competitions. |
| www.fashionmagazine.ca |
|
| Telegraph | Fashion |
| Fashion Director Hilary Alexander looks at an expanding market. ... Fashion 'Oscar' winner Giles Deacon is to join luxury label Daks, reveals Hilary ... |
| www.telegraph.co.uk |
|
| Telegraph | Fashion |
| Fashion 'Oscar' winner Giles Deacon is to join luxury label Daks, ... Buying vintage is more than a fashion trend, it's a good investment says Maria ... |
| www.telegraph.co.uk |
|
| Fashion Jobs | Fashion Jobs at 24 Seven Inc. |
| We're 24 Seven Inc., the number one source of fashion jobs and talent for the ... Our success at connecting the right people with the right fashion jobs has ... |
| www.fashion-jobs.biz |
|
| Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute ... |
| Pauline Weston Thomas and Guy Thomas place costume alongside the social history of an era, focusing on fashion from 1800. Includes undergarments, haute ... |
| www.fashion-era.com |
|
| Fashion Planet: Summer |
| New York-based site looks at collections, trends, personalities and global lifestyles with monthly updates. |
| www.fashion-planet.com |
|
| New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
| Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... Spring 2007 Fashion. philosophy and versace European Shows. The best of the big collections. ... |
| nymag.com |
|
| New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
| The recently maligned country struts its stuff at a fashion show in Manhattan. ... Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... |
| nymag.com |
|
| Fashion Icon |
| Features latest trends, dressing tips, an ask the fashion experts column, and fun craft projects. |
| www.fashion-icon.com |
|
| Fashion News on Yahoo! News |
| Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet Shine at "The Holiday" Premiere Fashion Wire Daily ... JAKARTA (Reuters) - Mention the words Islamic and fashion and most people ... |
| news.yahoo.com |
|
| Hint Fashion Magazine |
| Hint Fashion Magazine, featuring fashion news, model pages, photo shoots, designer interviews, beauty reports, party pictures and message boards. |
| www.hintmag.com |
|
|