What are original World War 2 battlefield maps with dates worth?

Answer 1

The price of paper battlefield maps can vary depending on the subject, print date, details, condition etc. Most will cost about $15 and will go up. Battlefield or tacticalmaps are ones that were used for mapping coordinates of both enemy and friendly troops and targets. These coordinates are referenced in the unit's records such as Operational Reports, Daily Reports and Intelligence Reports. Without these maps, the coordinates are meaningless.

Simple road maps were made that might be used by truck drivers or general use. Maps used by pilots are Air Navigation Maps and have the compass rose printed on it and usually important land marks such as railroads, airfields, quarries.

Cloth Maps or also known as "silk maps" were maps carried by pilots for use if they where shot down behind enemy lines. These were issued to each crew member when he went on a mission. These are printed in color. Some have blue ocean and white for land with roads and river currents in red and green. Other versions have full color terrain that varies from green to yellow to brown for the altitude. These cost $30 and as high as $80. The higher prices are for maps of Germany and France and those with earlier print dates.

A map depicting areas of Germany are more valuable. Maps that include important battlefields such as Normandy or Salerno are worth more also.

These battlefield maps had the original source info printed in the lower LH corner. In the lower right corner can be found another date and info that relates to who actually printed or copied this map. So, a US Army map that has info that indicates it was published by a Polish unit is of more value to specialize Polish collectors.

Another type of map are those issued by intelligence that has printed on it the positions of enemy troops or other detailed information. Some are marked with location of bunkers, machine guns, mortars, artillery. These will have a comment in the margin as to the source of the data, such as "II Corps". Maps like this of the Normandy beaches are very desireable to collectors.

Then there are the maps that are marked by hand. These are of great interest and some can identify the exact location of specific units. If you visit the National Archives Records Center in College Park, MD, you can check out original maps that have this type of information for the unit or battle you are studying. Some look like xerox copies that have been taped together and marked up.

If you are shopping on eBay, sellers will many times over-price their maps. The starting bid price is not always representative of the true value. Also, do not buy a map until you get a full description. Some look good in a small photo but they may be ripped, trimmed, worn(from carrying in a dirty leather map case) and not a WW2 item. Many of the cloth maps were reprinted after the war and will have a 1944 date in one location and a 1952 date in another location.

Link to Samples of Battlefield maps: http://www.custermen.com/Maps/ArmyMaps.htm

Link to excellent site on Cloth Maps: www.silkmap.com