WORTHINGTON FINE ART GALLERIES

Antique maps and atlases are certainly a niche collectible, but are gaining in popularity, according to Crouch, a London-based dealer. “People tend to collect maps of places with which they have a special connection,” he says. “As people travel more, they have stronger feelings about a wider range of places around the world. Maps and atlases are by definition global, so we see buyers from all over the world too.” He says that’s why the prices of maps featuring countries with rapidly growing economies such as China, India and Brazil have increased the most in recent years.