Nobody in central Missouri carries an older inventory of original manuscripts. At The Old World Trader, "rare" is not just a fancy word for used. Our average manuscript is well over 200 years old. We avoid carrying newer manuscripts unless there is historical significance or special importance to them.

You will find original maps by some of Europe's great cartographers like Blaeu, Jefferys, Bellin, de Vaugondy, Hondius, Muenster and others. We stock a number of maps that are well over 400 years old. For people interested in the look or information on the maps, we carry fine reproductions as well. These range from small to ten feet across.

We offer a large number of original manuscripts, selected for their decorative value. Some of our favorites include the hand-colored Simpson prints from the Crimean War, our original botanicals by William Curtis (only 300 printed in the 1700s), and our large Domenico Angelo fencing prints, printed at the request of the English royal family in 1763. The 14th century handwritten breviary leaves (see featured item) are fascinating to admire.

As with all of our other original pieces, our rare manuscripts are guaranteed for both satisfaction and authenticity.