Travel & Exploration Auctions

Travel books, maps and atlases

Early travel accounts, exploration narratives and illustrated books can record how journeys were planned and described. For a first enquiry, photograph the binding, title page, publication details and any inscriptions or bookplates.

Maps and atlases may be collected for their geography, printing, decoration or connection to a journey. Show map titles, makers’ names and dates where visible. For an atlas, include the contents list and tell us about loose or missing sheets.

Keep volumes and accompanying maps together. Do not remove plates or fold-out maps for photographs, and leave framed works in place for the first assessment.

Our Books, Maps & Manuscripts department covers book and map auctions more broadly. You can make one enquiry about a collection that spans both areas.

Expedition archives and personal records

Journals, letters, photographs and notebooks can help explain an expedition through the people who took part. The department welcomes enquiries about polar exploration, mountaineering and other travel archives.

Begin with a brief account of the person or journey, the dates covered and the approximate size of the archive. Include photographs of representative documents, headings and signatures. You do not need to transcribe every letter or identify every photograph.

Keep envelopes, captions and related papers together in their existing order where possible. Tell us which details are supported by records and which come from family memory. A documented connection is more useful than an attribution based on appearance alone.

If objects belong with the papers, show those too. Keeping a group together for the first assessment can help us understand its context before discussing a sale route.

Maritime objects and scientific instruments

Travel and exploration collections can include navigational instruments, telescopes, barometers, scales and other equipment. Photograph the whole object, its maker’s details and any case or accessories.

A B&M Travel & Exploration catalogue has included a James Short reflecting telescope, an octant by Solomon Marks & Co and a sextant by George Gibson. Maritime objects in that catalogue include a lighthouse lamp, a ship’s plaque and a flag associated with a voyage around Antarctica.

Explore the Travel & Exploration catalogue for examples of the range. It is a reference catalogue; check the auction calendar for current sale dates.

Our Scientific & Maritime department provides fuller advice on instruments, nautical antiques and ship models.

Travel posters and Grand Tour souvenirs

Travel posters, photographs and souvenirs can document a destination, route or period of travel. For posters, show the whole sheet, printed details and any visible damage. Give dimensions and say whether the work is framed or mounted.

For Grand Tour souvenirs and other objects, include views of the base, inscriptions, labels and any accompanying case. Tell us what is known about where and when the piece was acquired.

An object collected during travel may also fall within our Tribal & Ancient Art department. Share any purchase records and earlier ownership details so the team can discuss the assessment needed.

What informs an auction valuation?

The object or archive itself

Maker, date, materials, edition and completeness can all help identify what is being offered. An initial assessment may need closer inspection or further research before a description and estimate can be confirmed.

Connection to a journey

A named traveller, expedition or vessel can provide a starting point for research. Include dates, correspondence, photographs and other evidence that supports the connection. Explain uncertainty rather than trying to fill gaps in the story.

Condition and supporting material

Tell us about repairs, missing parts, staining or other damage. Cases, manuals, captions and related papers may help explain the group. Avoid cleaning, restoration or rearranging an archive for the first enquiry.

An auction estimate considers the particular material and demand for comparable items. It guides a possible sale result, rather than guaranteeing a price.

Selling a travel collection

Start with an overview of the collection, photographs and its location. Give the approximate number of objects or boxes of papers, and tell us whether an inventory exists. Explain any deadline or items you intend to retain.

We can discuss suitability for auction, further assessment and whether material should be offered together or in separate lots. For a substantial archive or fragile objects, agree arrangements with the team before packing or transporting them.

Before consigning, ask about estimates, reserve options, commission and other agreed costs. Our selling guide explains current terms. If you need a formal estate valuation, please say so and see our probate and insurance valuation service.

Buying at Travel & Exploration auctions

Browse our auction calendar and catalogues for available sales. Read the full description, condition information and recorded history of the lot. Ask about any point that is unclear before bidding.

For archives, check the scope and approximate contents rather than assuming the main image shows every document. For books, maps and instruments, check completeness and which accompanying parts are included.

Our buying guide explains registration and bidding. Check viewing arrangements and plan collection or delivery, allowing for applicable fees, VAT and transport costs in your budget.

Speak to Tom Harmer

For advice about a travel object, expedition archive or collection, contact Tom Harmer at tom.harmer@bm-auctions.co.uk or call 01449 673088. Photographs and a short outline of the material provide a useful starting point.