Family tree mapping has no shortage of enthusiasts. Services like 23andMe.com and Ancestry.com make easy work of discovering your roots spanning back centuries. This journey back in time is a sense of pride and inspiration for many. These self-affirming discoveries are well deserving of a representation that can be hung on the wall for all to see. There isn’t a more fitting representation of this connection to the past than a vintage map of the exact location your ancestors hail from.

A framed map isn’t just a series of boundaries; it’s wall art that features who you are and where you come from. After all, what history is more inspiring than your own? With vintage maps, you can share a moment in time and retell a story. A beautifully framed land ownership map from the 1800s allows you to see not only how things have changed, but look at the plot of land that was the beginning of your family in the United States. Hanging on the wall is untold stories of hard work and determination.

Chart Your Personal History

Are you looking for an anniversary gift? A decorative framed map of the place you met, lived together, or proposed is a cherished memory you can display with pride in your home. 

For a parent or relative, surprise them with an antique map of the town your ancestors immigrated from, complete with names and property lines. Old style maps are an art form that is displayed prominently in a home or office. Decorative maps truly bring a touch of elegance and class to a room unlike anything else. The beauty of modern technology is you can have a decorative map that looks old, but is printed to modern standards. These authentic recreations resist fading and yellowing, and are sure to stand the test of time. An antique style map is an heirloom that is preserved forever for future generations.

Decor for History Buffs

Framed vintage maps make an ordinary room into something unique. Decorative maps are home decor that brings American or world history to the center stage. For a history enthusiast, old maps are a window back in time to an era they are most passionate about. A battlefield map shows fortified ridgelines, strategic thickets, and even the unfortunate farmhouse caught in the crossfire. Historical maps let us walk in the shoes of the men and women who lived in some of the most trying times in history. 

The entire story of wars won and lost are represented on the brittle parchment of an old map. They capture an event that changed the course of history forever in the matter of hours. Historical maps can enhance any room exquisitely and tell exciting tales of the past. These maps are a conversation piece that can complete any space from entryways to a home office.

The Gift of Where We Came From

While we can’t go back in time, we can bring the past into the present. Maps connect us to the events that shaped the communities we live in. They are simple yet extraordinary. It’s easy to make a statement of worldliness and reverence with a small piece of our family history. Every map contains a story and a lesson about the countless lives that came before us. The simplicity of seeing farms back up to a stream for grazing livestock or businesses clustered around the local rail yard transports us back to a time where towns thrived independently. Antique maps allow us to discover more about our own origins.

 Antique maps retain a particular veneration within their margins. We somehow become captivated by the secrets they hold. We ask ourselves about the lives of those who lived within the carefully stenciled lines. What were their lives like? We gaze in amazement when we see the farm that now hosts a 40 story skyscraper or a sprawling subdivision. While the world around us rapidly changes, maps are snapshots of the past that represent precisely who we are and how we got here.

For the family tree fanatic on your list, a vintage map is the gift of their story from the beginning. The story of how we arrived to where we are and what would have been under our feet a long time ago. Give the gift of history so that it can be passed down, preserved, and never forgotten.

As a real estate agent, it can be difficult coming up with new, fresh ideas for gifts to give to real estate clients at closing. There are all kinds of routes you may choose to go when selecting a gift for a real estate closing - but if you want to make a great impression with something that is beautiful, classically elegant, and inexpensive - you can't go wrong with a digitally reproduced vintage map by Ted's Vintage Art.

For anywhere from $44 to $199 (depending on how large you want it, and if you want it framed or not) - you can give your real estate clients an amazing gift that they will treasure in their home forever.

Here at Ted's we have over 3,000 maps available, just do a quick search for a relevant city, county or state and you'll be sure to find a great map your clients will love.

It may be tempting, as a real estate agent and well-networked professional in your community, to provide gifts to your clients that are branded with your real estate company's logo, etc.

While there might be a slight benefit to you in this gift-giving transaction, it's a terrible gift to receive after spending a few hundred thousand dollars on a new home.  Instead, choose a vintage map of a city, county or state that has a personal connection to your client.

A map is an elegant gift that can be displayed in your client's new home, and they will be very thankful for the genuine thoughtfulness you put into selecting their gift.