Since they were first invented and drawn out with sticks in the dirt and painted on walls, maps have performed an invaluable service to humankind and they have also represented some symbolic aspects of a pioneering spirit and chartering new territories. Meanwhile, one of the trends that developed in the twentieth century is to collect maps. And while the latest edition of your local city map is unlikely to be framed and make the wall of many libraries, one of the ancient world maps that is not only beautifully detailed but also shows the development of national histories and a perspective on the shape on content of the world itself, likely will.

There are other maps that are interesting and collectible and many people who are obsessed with this hobby or pastime have numerous volumes of maps from all over the world. It is possible to find numerous editions of a single state such as an Alaska map , in a collection that spans decades over even centuries. And one of the things collectors love is to compare the new edition to previous ones and chart any new developments or changes. This is an extremely engaging hobby and most of the people who collect maps also study history and the two fields complement each other in an overall global awareness practice. And while this is true for many people, a comprehensive study of world history is generally not the aspect that originally enticed them into the hobby.