Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Thread Like Summary - Old Gas Map Question

Got a taste and appreciation for gas and oil and Americana. I have opportunity to acquire about 140 old service station, gas company road maps ... Texaco, Gulf, Standard, Shell, Sinclair, Conoco, Phillips 66..... 1930 - 1970's. Any suggestions or help about what to look for or if even worth my time and money. Thanks

I've been saving maps for a long time and have accumulated thousands through many outlets- flea markets, tag and estate sales, swap meets, gas shows, auctions, friends, etc etc. They are a relatively lower cost (with exceptions) gas collectible. You can obtain examples from obscure companies that have higher priced items (cans, globes, signs) that may be out of reach price wise. Maps are neat little windows in time that can show what equipment, signage, products were in use at those stations.

Maps can be tough to display. Many map collectors preserve their maps in archival grade plastic bags or sleeves, and can frame or store in 3 ring binders. Others prefer to display in road map racks that were used in the service station. Most collectors are fussy about condition and will pass on damaged maps.

Maps can be had cheaply in bulk lots, averaging under a dollar each. A majority of maps are valued between a dollar and 30.00 each, depending on brand, state, year, collector preference, etc. There are also maps worth more, some reaching into the 100's of dollars each.

I recommend anyone interested in maps join the Road Map Collectors Club. They put out a nice newsletter and have a national convention. Contact them at www.roadmaps.org

Older the better.....IMO the majority of maps from the late 40's to the 70's are mostly a dime a dozen. Out of the companies you mention, all are plentiful major oil companies. Look for small independent or regional oil companies, those are the ones that have more value, even later ones. Also, what collectors call "graphic maps" with lots of attractive artwork that usually run the 3 main panels when a map is initially unfolded are collectible, generally these are earlier maps as well from the 30's or before. Good luck....
Darin