A Conversation With Daniel Crouch

Our storytelling also informs our style of display at fairs and in the gallery: maps, books, and globes are enduring artefacts that stand as evidence of the stories of their creation – we like to show this. Our displays and catalogues, therefore, emphasise the three-dimensionality of these objects and we show bindings, sheet edges, the natural contours of paper, and we minimise anything that detracts from this. Our frames, displays and boxes are very functional and minimalist. This approach chimes nicely with modern preferences for interior decoration, and so makes our old paper look quite at home in your Starkitecht home.

Third, buy a few good reference books. Even in the internet age, it is hard to build a collection when you don’t know what is out there to collect. 50 years ago, there were very few good reference books. Now, there are books covering many general and specialty topics that will help provide context and a sense of what is out there to be collected. In choosing dealer relationships, working with someone who has a wide selection and knowledge in your area of interest also helps.

Also, don’t be locked in to other people’s ideas and lists of “must have” maps in your area of interest. For a true collector, the only thing more exciting than finding a map you have always wanted is discovering one you didn’t know existed. If you constrain yourself to someone else’s list, you are missing a chance to personalize your collection. Ultimately, however, the same guidance applies to all our customers – buy what you like and in the best possible condition. For those customers that wish to build a serious collection, we advise that they think long and hard about a focus – the best collections are tightly defined and concentrated. Having said that, not all customer are collectors – many of our buyers are shopping for a one off piece for decoration or for a gift.

Designed by Woulfe has noticed a trend that clients are interested in creating a connection between themselves, or their families, and collecting maps. For example, finding maps done in the year that someone was born or collecting different maps of someone’s birthplace. How do you advise collectors find the best map in order to achieve that truly personal connection?

Give us a call!

In the past, Designed by Woulfe has had clients who have incomplete sets of maps, either from their own purchases or inheritance. What resources do you recommend to start the undertaking of completing a set?

Again, please get in touch. We can help to identify the map and can then suggest avenues to pursue.

Much to my surprise, the book business has been remarkably buoyant during the pandemic, and we have been doing “old normal” levels of selling online – It would appear that my addicts need a fix regardless of the economic climate! The upshot of this though is that we will probably re-evaluate our willingness to hop on an aeroplane and sit for a week in quite so many big air-conditioned boxes as previously.

Who is your ideal client?

YOU!