Personalised Old Map - Make Your Own 1800s and 1900s Ordnance Survey Postcode Map
This is a personalised map of the UK. I also have personalised maps of the USA, Netherlands, France and Germany.
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Handmade in the USA
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Your map will be handmade in the US
The Unique Maps Co. has state of the art production facilities in North Carolina and Michigan, and specialist large format facilities in New Jersey and California. Your map will be printed, framed and personalised in the US.
Making and dispatching maps locally keeps delivery times down (usually 2-3 days) and means your map should always arrive in perfect condition.
I also have production hubs in 17 countries around the world, which means you can buy this map as a gift for someone and I will make and deliver the map locally. They won't have to pay any tax or import duty.
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Free delivery
in 2-3 days
Delivery in 2-3 days
Your map should be delivered in 2-3 working days with free delivery.
Express delivery is available at checkout which can reduce this to 1-2 days.
If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, contact me and we can discuss your options.
Please note that personalised maps, and some larger framed maps can take longer to produce and deliver.
- 5 stars 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot
- Certified sustainable frames & packaging
Custom map sizes are available
At The Unique Maps Co., every order is processed and made by hand. There is no mass production and every map is custom made to order.
This means that I can tailor your map so that it perfectly fits a space on your wall, or a frame that you already own.
To order a custom sized map, select the size closest to what you need, and then select 'customise the size?' from the options below.
Custom sizing is free for large maps over 100cm or 40 inches, but for smaller maps there will be an additional small fee.
Or try searching for something!
This is a fully personalised map of your hometown or postcode, with your house (or someone else's!) focused in the middle of the map.
My personalised maps are perfect as birthday, housewarming and anniversary gifts. (And of course, as they're printed on paper, you would get bonus points for giving one of these maps for a paper wedding anniversary!)
Please note that my personalised maps are only available for Great Britain addresses (that is, England, Scotland and Wales).
Looking for maps of the USA? Check out my custom made US Topo maps.
I also have custom made maps of France, Germany and the Netherlands.
How to order a custom made map
You need to pick a size, whether you want the map framed or unframed, and the orientation of the map (landscape, portrait or square).
No matter what size you order, the text and map will be sharp and readable. If you choose a smaller size, the map will be more 'zoomed in', and larger maps will cover a wider area.
Then, you must at least fill in the 'map address' box. I will make a map that is focused on this address. It can be a street name, postcode, town, etc.
Map age & style
You can then choose the age of your map, and the style. The detailed street maps, which show just about every house and road, are available from roughly 1870 to 1960 (but it does vary a bit by city and area).
I also have a more colourful, topographical map style. These are less detailed: they show some buildings, but no street names. You can see some examples of these colourful maps in the product gallery.
Accent colour & house highlight
In the next box, tell me if you want an accent colour, or if you want your house highlighted on the map. Generally, most darker colours look good.
If you don't want your address at the bottom, say so in this box.
Gift message, frame customisation, ageing...
Finally, there are a few more options to choose from. If you order a framed map, you can pick a different frame colour or material. If you prefer an older looking map, select 'aged' before adding it to your basket.
A variety of sizes are available, all the way from 8x10 inches (20x25cm) up to a map that is a few metres wide.
After you order you will get an email from The Unique Maps Co. with a draft of your personalised map. If you have not got an email within 2 or 3 days, check your spam/junk folder. And if nothing's there, please get in contact with me.
Your map will be based on an Ordnance Survey map from the beginning of the 19th century. The oldest map I will use to create your personalised map is from the 1850s. Usually I will use a map from 1890 to 1910, as those maps have a little colour in them and they're more interesting. I will try to find the oldest map that has your house on it.
If you would like a later map, I can create personalised maps up until the 1960s. This might be helpful if you live in a house that was built in the last 50 or 60 years. These newer maps have slightly less 'character' than the old ones. But if you live in a Victorian or earlier house, it will usually be visible on the early 1900s maps.
If you would like a highly customised map, or you want something a bit different from what you see in the product gallery, please get in touch before you order. I have been customising maps for decades and can do almost anything you can imagine to make your map truly unique.
The model in the listing images is holding the 24x18 inch (60x45cm) version of this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving or housewarming gift for anyone who is looking for something more personal.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.
My standard frame is a black wood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. On maps up to 36 inches (91cm) the frame is 2cm (0.75in) wide. I use thicker frames on larger maps - usually between 35 and 60mm (1.4in to 2.4in).
In all cases I use super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.
All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions... always get in touch!
If you want a different frame colour or material, click "customise your frame" before adding it to your basket. Learn more about my custom framing and mounting/matting.
Alternatively, I can also supply old map on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.
If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.
Some of my old maps are now available on canvas. Smaller and larger sizes are available, but you must contact me to order.
Check my canvas maps collection to see which maps are currently available on canvas.
Canvas old maps are an interesting alternative to conventionally framed maps. Depending on your personal taste and room decor, canvas maps can "pop" a bit more than a framed map.
I print on responsibly sourced canvas with very high quality, fade-resistant inks. Then the canvas is stretched over a hand-glued solid wood frame - and yes, the wood is responsibly and renewably sourced.
The finished piece is 1.5 inches (3.8cm) deep and comes ready to hang.
Please note that because of the texture of canvas, some of the finer details on some maps will be harder to read than a map printed on paper.
At 36x24 inches (90x60cm) everything should be legible. But if you want to check before you order, please contact me.
For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised orders take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.
As Christmas draws closer, please take a look at my Christmas delivery deadlines. Deliveries will slow down as we get closer to Christmas.
Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.
If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.
I have production facilities all around the world where I print and frame maps. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.
All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.
I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.
If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).
We are able to next-day delivery in some cases if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.
My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.
I source original, extremely rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.
My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/190gsm. It's perfect for framing.
I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.
Please contact me if you're looking for a print on canvas or cotton rag.
Learn more about how the Unique Maps Co. sources and restores old maps
Map personalisation
If you want to make your old map really unique, I am able to personalise your map with a short message, for example:
- "Happy birthday, Ben! From Mum & Dad"
- "To My Beloved. Let's Explore The World Together!"
This message will be added to the map in such a way that it looks just like a real part of the map.
Select the "Personalise Map" option above if you'd like to add map personalisation to your map.
Learn more about my map personalisation service.
Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.
If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.
I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 1,500 real 5-star reviews.
I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.
Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.
