When Sulkhan Saladze came across a rare panoramic view of Tbilisi on a German auction site a decade ago, he had no idea it would change the course of his life. What began as a single purchase soon grew into a lifelong passion for old maps, books and engravings, each revealing stories of exploration, trade and the historic ties between Europe and Georgia.
Today, as co-founder of Mappa Cartographica, Saladze curates one of the region’s most remarkable private collections of antique maps, uncovering forgotten chapters of Georgia’s presence on some of the world’s oldest charts.
We spoke with Saladze, former chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, a leading civil society organization, about how his fascination began and the partnership that transformed a childhood interest into a thriving collection.
When did you become interested in cartography and ancient books?
My interest goes back to my childhood and school years. Geography and history were always my favorite subjects. At my parents’ home in Keda, Adjara, where I grew up, we had a large library filled with encyclopedias, atlases, and books on history and ethnography. As a child, I dreamed of becoming an archaeologist above all else. In the end, I chose to study law and set aside my early fascination with maps and ancient books for a time.
How did your collection first begin, and how did those early maps and books find their way to you?
It all started quite by accident. About ten years ago, a friend shared a post on social media about a German collector auctioning the first panoramic view of Tbilisi. I registered that same day and placed a bid. To my surprise, I won. That moment brought the first panoramic view of Tbilisi into my life, created by Jean Chardin in 1673 during his travels in Georgia and printed by Moses Pitt in London in 1686.
Buying that view marked the beginning of my renewed passion for old books and maps, this time focused on early European editions. Soon after, I acquired a 1723 map of the Caspian Sea region, printed in Paris. It was the first detailed European map of the area, and the prominent Georgian writer, lexicographer, and diplomat Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani had contributed to its creation.
My collection later grew to include the French edition of Prince Vakhushti Batonishvili’s map of Georgia, printed in Venice in 1775. This edition introduced Georgian place names into European cartography, including Djiketi (Jiketi), Apkhazeti (Abkhazia), and Zemokartli (Upper Kartli).
Over time, I began gathering engravings and illustrations of Georgia and Georgians printed in Europe between the 16th and 19th centuries. Today, my private collection includes more than 300 maps and engraved prints.
Tell us about the process. Each piece must be a real adventure to find and bring to Georgia.
Finding old European maps, engravings or books involves balancing price, age, condition, rarity, markings and, above all, the connection to Georgia. Experience has taught me that haste never helps, but waiting too long can be equally risky. I often joke that the motto “make haste slowly” is the collector’s best friend. Nothing compares to the moment a new purchase arrives in Tbilisi. Unwrapping it and seeing a piece you may have searched for years is pure magic.
How did Mappa Cartographica begin?
In early 2021, I completed my term as chairman of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. I decided to take a break from my professional career and devote more time to my lifelong passion for finding, collecting and studying old European maps and books. After the pandemic, I realized that I no longer felt drawn to the pace and pressure of a lawyer’s life.
In August 2023, I met Mr Zaza Gogotishvili, the founder of Anagi, Georgia’s largest construction company. We are both from Batumi, and from our very first conversation it was clear that we shared a deep interest in collecting old maps and books. Mr Gogotishvili’s genuine enthusiasm for history and cartography made a strong impression on me. What began as a meeting of shared interests soon developed into a close collaboration based on a common vision.
It was Mr Zaza Gogotishvili who suggested creating a space where these rare European maps, books, and engravings could be presented to the public. In April 2024, we founded Mappa Cartographica and began building a collection. Initially, the focus was on Georgia. Later, we added collections on Azerbaijan and Armenia, with plans to include Central Asia. Today, Mappa Cartographica features maps not only of Georgia but also of the wider region.
Our themes range from ancient European maps depicting Georgia to maps of empires, seas, continents, and the world that include references to the country. Many of the maps, books, and engraved illustrations in the collection were printed centuries ago in Western Europe — in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, and England.
The oldest map in our collection was printed in Ulm, Germany, in 1486. Based on Ptolemy’s Geography, it shows the lands between the Black and Caspian Seas, including the ancient Georgian kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia.
We continue to expand the collection, a deeply rewarding process, especially given that when I began, few people in Georgia showed much interest in ancient maps. Today, our collection offers a remarkably rich display. Mr Gogotishvili’s unwavering support has been vital to the growth and success of Mappa Cartographica.
As interest grows, more people are discovering the fascination of old maps. This emerging community of collectors and enthusiasts is helping to uncover forgotten chapters of Georgian history. European archives still hold many undiscovered treasures, and each new map has the power to reveal fresh stories about our nation and its place in the world.
What is the profile of Mappa Cartographica?
At its core, Mappa Cartographica serves an educational and cultural mission, promoting and popularising historical discoveries. We have already hosted several talks on history, cartography, and topics related to our collection, and we plan to expand these educational initiatives to offer audiences even more ways to engage with the material.
Publishing is also a key part of our work. We produce map reproductions and other printed materials to highlight Georgian history and its earliest connections with Europe. It is fascinating to explore how European travellers perceived Georgians over the centuries. We plan to reprint rare books and atlases under the Mappa Cartographica Series.
We also provide opportunities for institutions and private collectors to acquire original printed editions — maps, books, and engravings that are centuries old. For passionate collectors, we offer consultancy services to help build collections or locate and acquire specific items worldwide.
Which maps or books in the collection are you most proud of?
We have many exceptional pieces, but three stand out in particular.
One belongs to what we call our “gold fund”: the Tabula Peutingeriana, an ancient Roman road map dating from the fourth century. The original has been lost, but a thirteenth-century copy preserved at the Austrian National Library in Vienna is recognised as the surviving version. Last year, with the help of our partners in the United States, we acquired the 1753 Vienna edition. Comprising twelve sections and stretching almost six metres, it shows the ancient Georgian kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia, along with fortress-cities such as Gonio, Batumi, Phasis, and Sokhumi.
Another highlight is the first large-format lithographic copy of the Hereford Mappa Mundi, dated 1872, originally created around 1300 in Hereford Monastery, England. Only about thirty of these early lithographic copies survive worldwide, and one now resides in our gallery. Among more than five hundred illustrations and inscriptions on the map is a depiction dedicated to ancient Colchis and the Golden Fleece.
We also hold the first printed edition, published in 1611 in Hanau, Germany, of the world map created by Genoese cartographer Pietro Vesconte between 1311 and 1325. This exceptionally rare piece is particularly significant because it is the first map in European cartography to label our country as “Georgia.” For us, it represents the birth certificate of the nation’s most widely recognised foreign name.
What’s next for Mappa Cartographica? Are there any upcoming discoveries or initiatives?
We have recently completed negotiations with one of the largest collector houses in the United States to acquire a 1696 Paris-printed map by Nicolas de Fer depicting the Great Wall of Asia. This map was produced in limited numbers for the French royal court and aristocracy, and its decorative panels include three illustrations related to Georgia, including a scene of Georgians entering Jerusalem under the flag of Saint George.
With the help of our international partners, we have also located the first Paris edition of Vakhushti Batonishvili’s map of Georgia, published in 1766. We hope to add this rare piece to our collection by the end of the year.
Last year in London, we acquired the travel atlas of Jacques François Gamba, France’s first consul in Tbilisi, dated 1826. Roughly half of its sixty lithographic illustrations relate to Georgia and Georgians, yet it has never been published in Georgia. Early next year, on the 200th anniversary of its creation, we will release the first Georgian edition of Gamba’s Atlas of Travels.
Soon, we will participate in the 24th Old Map Fair in Paris, alongside some of Mappa Cartographica’s well-known collector partners. I am confident that we will uncover many more rare maps, books, and engravings of significance to Georgia.
I can say with certainty that visitors to Mappa Cartographica, and anyone passionate about old European maps, can look forward to many exciting discoveries in the years ahead.
By Team GT
