About us

Introduction and Mission:

It is our mission to establish ourselves as a trusted source for the print enthusiast and a leading authority on antique prints, maps and illustrated books. Our focus is 16th - 18th century European material, both derived from illustrated books or stand-alone masterprints and art. But we offer other unique material as well. Being print collectors ourselves we have felt a need for a website that can give the collector extensive visual information on available material. We strive to be thorough and very reasonable in our prices. We promote prints and art as great objects to decorate and beautify your home and office or as an investment for resale. Often collecting is thought of as buying top quality unique prints and indeed these can be very expensive. The slightly less unique material, though, can be quite enjoyable too and is often as affordable as a modern reproduction print (where value decreases the moment it leaves the store). We strongly believe prints are great investments that can be enjoyed as well as kept as a relatively safe investment. The bottom line, you can become a prints collector too, large or small ! At the least, check it out and collect a print !

Our history and strategy:

The initiative to start a professional website was born in the middle of 2003. While our original background lies in such fields as Landscape Design, Planning, Mapping, Investment Advice and enjoying life, we have had an interest in antique maps and prints early on. While developing a good feeling for the quality of investments, our interest for antique prints developed further and this passion grew into a mission to bring antique prints to the attention of a larger public. After experiencing the great setbacks in traditional investments we realized that investing in prints can be a visual pleasing opportunity to diversify your portfolio. Although promoting our website is our no. 1 focus we will visit you by participating in Antique Book fairs, Lifestyle fairs etc. Review our calender for a fair in your region.

While living in the United States we had come to a couple of simple conclusions relating to print collecting:

• Distribution of prints is controlled by a very traditional group of antique dealers. One visits a store and finds a very limited collection of prints. It is difficult and time consuming to find the prints you like. Internet can solve these issues, but traditional dealers are not very likely to use this medium, established as they are.


• Prints are potentially very good investments, but it is much easier to buy them than to eventually dispose of them. Particularly if one purchases at a high price it takes years before the wholesale price catches up to where the dealer will pay more than your original purchase price.


• Auction sites like www.ebay.com are a great alternative to finding reasonably priced prints, but at the same time very time consuming. And for most collectors it is almost impossible to judge the quality or authenticity of the print being offered.


• People are not always comfortable doing business with an unknown e-store.


• Many people spend as much on a reproduced print as they could on an original print if they only knew how to go about buying and appreciating them.

Thus he came to the conclusion that solving these issues could only be done by starting his own website where:

• Collectors can get an extensive overview (from the comfort of their living room) of what is being offered in the market place.


• Collectors can buy for reasonable prices.


• Collectors can sell their investments. All items being offered are carefully reviewed for authenticity and not just listed. Together we decide on the best method to market your material. (auction sites, auction houses etc.) Ultimate listing fees and costs are negotiable and very reasonable.


• Buyers and sellers are protected. Buyer funds are verified before items are shipped. Sellers will not receive funds until the shipment is received by the buyer. You can compare us to an escrow account.
  
• Collectors can find information on issues relating to print collecting.

While developing the site we also came to the conclusion that his site could be a collaboration between a few selected collectors/investors. Several wholesale print dealers have also taken the opportunity to make their collections available for images and sale. Because we are full time collectors/investors we offer the same service a commercial site or shop would offer. But because of our collector focus we feel we can offer more than a traditional shop could offer and often at a much more reasonable price.

Prices, Quality and Warranty:

You will find our prices reasonable. We offer a general warranty that the item is as described. We base our prices on the quality and uniqueness of the item. In our item description we seek to be honest and complete. We also list specifics, including damages, restoration etc. Keep in mind though that you are buying antique material. We expect you to be a reasonable buyer as well. We do accept returns if you prove that our description is in error and does not match the item. In any case, we do allow for an instore exchange of items.

Our Reputation:

Over time you will get to know us as being a very trustworthy partner. Currently our reputation can be checked from our reviews at Ebay. Our user name with Ebay is theprintscollector.

This website:

For those that are interested in starting their own website, we have decided to make the architecture of this site available. Your advantage will be to profit from our experience in a site that is already set up efficiently, cost effective, and filled with artists' biographies and standard information. As a result you will save time and money, while keeping up to date.