Guam & Marianas

Antique Views of Guam

This category presents original antique views and prints depicting Guam, a key island in the Mariana chain and one of the earliest Pacific islands encountered by European navigators. Historic images often focus on harbour approaches, coastal landmarks and village scenes as seen from the water, reflecting the island’s role in early trans-Pacific voyages.

Many Guam views derive from sketches made by explorers, naval officers and missionaries in the 17th–19th centuries, which were later reproduced as engravings or lithographs for atlases, travel accounts and geographic publications. These works document a landscape of strategic importance long before modern mapping techniques, providing insight into navigational priorities and early colonial encounters.

Antique prints of Guam are valued for their historical context and rarity, offering visual evidence of early Pacific contact and the island’s significance within regional navigation, trade routes and cultural exchange. As original period works on paper, they are appealing to collectors and scholars interested in Pacific cartography and visual history.