Votre Carte Ancienne is expanding its offering to include pictorial maps!

September 26, 2025

I'm pleased to announce a great new feature on Votre Carte Ancienne : Mathieu, a passionate collector, is now offering his antique pictorial maps for sale directly on the site! Through this interview, he tells us about his career, his inspirations, and the reasons that led him to offer you his collection.

Hi Mathieu, can you introduce yourself?

Hi! My name is Mathieu, and I'm a passionate collector of illustrated cards. What started as a simple childhood hobby has transformed over the years into a veritable treasure hunt. I love the idea of unearthing unique pieces, admiring the work of artists, and sharing this passion with a community that thrives on the same thing. For me, each card is a gateway to a fascinating world.

Mathieu, passionate collector!

Where does this passion for maps come from and what led you to illustrated maps?

I've always loved maps and geography. As a teenager, my mother had the brilliant idea of getting me a subscription to magazines like National Geographic. I vividly remember a map of North Korea, often included as a supplement, proudly sitting above my stereo. I was so proud of it! This interest naturally led me to geopolitics, particularly with shows like "Le Dessous des Cartes."

Later, two events accelerated everything. First, the meeting with my brother-in-law, a fan of old maps who lives on the other side of the world and who introduced me. I bought my first atlases, my first old maps... And then one day, at a flea market, bam! The revelation. I came across modern, illustrated maps, those dating from between 1900 and the end of the 70s. From that day on, it was the beginning of the end! I had found my specialty.

I'm so glad you're posting your cards on my site! Which cards did you want to select?

I think combining our two collections is a fantastic idea; it allows us to offer a truly extraordinary selection. For my part, I carefully picked through my hundreds of pieces to offer a selection that invites you to travel. There are vintage posters from the Messageries Maritimes company, like this superb ocean liner journey to Asia, but also a world map by the famous Lucien Boucher created for the centenary of the Red Cross, or a historical map of the city of Berlin with its wall. My goal was to vary the styles, the illustrators and of course the destinations: there are some for Asia, Europe, America, Oceania, Africa... and even for the Moon !

Do you have a card in your collection that you particularly love? And which card do you dream of acquiring?

Ah, that's the hardest question! I have several cards that I like for very different reasons.

First, there is a world map published by Menier chocolates in the 1950s. It is one of the first illustrated maps that I managed to find and I was incredibly proud of it; it has a particular sentimental value. But I also have a huge weakness for a map of Abyssinia. Its graphic aspect, with a sense of detail that amazes me, completely transports me. It is really this style that makes me vibrate.

Regarding my dream map, I have one that is almost a regret! A few years ago, I owned a tourist and culinary map of Hungary. It was a real gem, almost impossible to find. I sold it, naively thinking that I would soon find it again... Spoiler: years later, I'm still looking for it! Otherwise, more generally, I greatly admire the work of illustrator Leslie MacDonald Gill. To one day acquire his original poster of the island of Ceylon would be an absolute dream. I have one by an unknown author who is very inspired by it, but the original remains a Grail.

Do you have a funny anecdote to share about your life as a collector?

A funny anecdote comes to mind. I remember buying a set of maps from an English saleswoman, a bit blindly and without expecting a gem. When I unpacked everything, I came across this piece: a magnificent "Pictorial Map of Soccer", very 70s-style. Even without being a football expert, I was immediately seduced by its graphics. The bright colors, the portraits of legendary players on the sides, the illustrations of the trophy and Wembley Stadium... It's a superb object, a true witness to its time. Quite honestly, it's not my world, but I knew straight away that it would make an incredible gift for a close friend who is a real enthusiast!