Found a trick for spotting fake antique maps by looking at the paper edge

I got burned last month on a so-called 1850s map of Boston from an online seller. The paper looked old but something felt off. I remembered a tip from a restorer I met at a show in Philly - he said old paper has a rough deckle edge that frays unevenly, not a clean cut. So I took a magnifying glass to the edge and sure enough, it was machine-cut smooth. Real maps from before 1900 were made on hand-laid paper with chain lines and a deckle edge. I tested it on three maps I know are legit and the edges match every time. Now I check the edge before I even look at the ink. Has anyone else used this trick or got a better way to spot a reproduction without spending money?

2 comments

2 Comments

viola1717d ago

Wait, that garage sale map you bought from me?

vera_sanchez7d ago

Did you find that trick before or after buying my "genuine" 1880s print from a garage sale?