An Introduction to Antique Maps: "Here be Dragons"
Mike Sweeting
- Region:
- England
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- To Companies, Professions, U3A, Charity, Rotary, After Dinner, WI, Probus, Heritage & Arts
- Fee:
- Paid: £70 to £90 dependent on length etc. No expenses charged semi-locally
- Category:
- Humanities
- Updated:
- 7th March 2024
- Tagged:
- Maps | Geography | Antiques | Decorative Art
Dragons, capsized pirate ships, one-eyed monsters - all appear on early maps from the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Such maps are incredibly decorative, reasonable in price to buy, and usually tell a story. Their makers were remarkable people often harassed by the state or persecuted for their faith. Their methods of manufacture mean that you can hold in your hands 400 yr old items that are materially unchanged. (I usually bring some with me for just that purpose).
I look at the basic story of mapping, how we ended up with north at the top, how we found out methods of proportion and position, how the maps were made etc. I am happy to value any old maps brought along by attendees.
Views: 1632 | Enquiries: 2About Mike Sweeting
Raised on a farm, educated to PhD level at Durham University, briefly became an academic, then a church pastor, then a businessman, then a Mergers & Acquisitions advisor worldwide, setting up corporate finance firms in 15 countries. Have lectured in M&A for Cranfield, several international law firms, several universities, Institute of Management, numerous mentoring and training firms.
I have spoken professionally in 30 countries, as chairman of a charity in 5 more (India, USA, Canada, Romania, Argentina). I have been a keen rock climber and target shooter since the age of 15. These, also, have given me an opportunity to see the world.
I made a tentative return to the academic world in 2018 and ended up publishing with 2 universities by the end of the year. This reflects my continuing interest in the poetry of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.
I speak on these main areas - HUMOUR, ANITIQUE MAPS, LITERATURE, MILITARY HISTORY, SELLING COMPANIES Humorous Overseas experiences, India Antique Maps, Detective Fiction, Modern Poetry, Battlefields, Great Military Blunders, Valuing companies, Selling or Buying companies and the pitfalls, Developing negotiation skills.
My references are in the scores. Please refer to my LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmikesweeting/
Most recent, April 2026 "Mike Sweeting hit exactly the right level for me. It answered a number of questions I never thought to ask myself about maps and highlighted yet another area I really ought to find out more about." West Deeping Heritage.
Current Positions
- Council Member of the Ted Hughes Society. Gave papers at the 9th International Ted Hughes Conference, 2022 and at the Paris Sorbonne Modern British Poetry Conference, 2023. Paper at 10th Intl TH Conference Pembroke College, Cambridge, 2026.
- Member of the SCR of Grey College, Durham University
- Member of the Battlefields Trust
- Member of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation Recent Positions
- Chairman of the International Map Collectors Society (IMCoS). Also Chaired Symposia in Malta 2024, Helsinki 2025 and Portlaind, Maine 2025.
- Fellow of the Institute of Directors and of the Institute of Sales Management
- Member of the Climbers Club of Great Britain and British Mountaineering Council Previous Positions
- Chairman - Advance India
- Director - Middleham Key Centre Ltd
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Mike Sweeting
- Wandering and Wondering
- Detective Fiction of the Golden Age; 'Such a Strange Lady'
- Ted Hughes & Sylvia Plath
- Colours of India
- ‘Down & Dirty Guide to Private Company Valuation’
- ‘Down & Dirty Guide to Buying a Private Company’
- ‘Down & Dirty Guide to Selling a Private Company’
- ‘Down & Dirty Guide to Core Negotiation Skills’
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