Old Map of Oxfordshire by Samuel Lewis, 1844: Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon, Bicester, and Witney
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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 (4 to 5 days) and means your map should always arrive in perfect condition.
I also have production hubs in 21 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 by Christmas
Free worldwide delivery by Christmas
Your map should be delivered in 4 to 5 working days with free delivery, or 2 to 3 days with express delivery (available at checkout).
If you are ordering a personalised map, it will add 2 to 3 days to the delivery time, and free delivery may not arrive by Christmas if there are any postal delays in your area.
Large framed maps (125cm/50in or larger) take longer to make, and may not arrive by Christmas.
Please note that couriers and postal services are slowing down, and some deliveries are taking longer than expected.
Please see my Christmas delivery deadlines for more info.
If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, contact me and we can discuss your options.
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Premium hardwood frames
Premium hardwood frames
For a limited time, I am trialling premium hardwood frames for framed maps made in the United States.
These frames are either made from a beautiful light oak, or a very solid-feeling ash with a nice grain.
If you'd like an oak frame, select 'pick frame colour' and then 'natural wood'.
If you do not pick a frame colour, you will receive my black ash frame.
In a few weeks, you will have to pay an extra fee for a premium frame.
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Certified sustainable +
we plant trees🌳
Sustainability & Tree Planting
Here at The Unique Maps Co., we have an unusually high affinity for paper. After all, without paper, there can be no maps!
That's why all of our paper, frames and packaging are from FSC certified sources.
But we don't stop there. We've partnered with Treeapp to plant trees around the world.
If you spend $60 or more, we'll plant a tree in your name.
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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 exquisitely detailed and historically rich map of Oxfordshire from 1844 by the notable cartographer, Samuel Lewis, provides a fascinating snapshot of one of England's most historic counties during a period of immense social and industrial change. Every hand-drawn line and painstakingly etched name tells a story of a time and place that laid the foundations of the modern Oxfordshire we know today. Each settlement, from the smallest hamlet to the largest town, offers a window into the past, some of which have grown into modern cities while others have remained charmingly unaltered over the centuries.
This vintage map is perfect for those with a love for history and geography, as it captivates with its antiquated charm while illustrating the seeds of Oxfordshire's future. Many of today's bustling towns and cities can be found on this map, albeit sometimes under their earlier names, adding an extra layer of excitement for the keen observer.
List of 30 Towns and Cities in Oxfordshire (1844):
- Oxford (founded c. 900 AD) - Known for its world-renowned University of Oxford, one of the oldest in the world.
- Banbury (founded pre-1086 AD) - Famously featured in the nursery rhyme "Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross".
- Abingdon (founded pre-7th Century AD) - Recognized as one of the oldest continually inhabited towns in England.
- Bicester (founded c. 1130 AD) - A market town that has seen significant growth in recent years.
- Witney (founded pre-1066 AD) - Noted for its historical significance in the wool trade.
- Kidlington (founded c. 1086 AD) - Reputed to be the largest village in England.
- Didcot (founded pre-1086 AD) - Became a significant railway town in the 19th century.
- Wantage (founded c. 6th Century AD) - Birthplace of King Alfred the Great.
- Carterton (founded c. 1770 AD) - Rapidly expanded due to its proximity to RAF Brize Norton.
- Thame (founded pre-1086 AD) - Known for its beautiful 13th-century parish church.
- Wallingford (founded c. 9th Century AD) - An ancient market town with a historic castle ruin.
- Henley-on-Thames (founded c. 1170 AD) - Famous for its annual Royal Regatta.
- Faringdon (founded c. 1218 AD) - Known for Faringdon Folly, an iconic 100ft tower.
- Chipping Norton (founded c. 1205 AD) - A market town with a rich woolen manufacturing history.
- Charlbury (founded c. 1086 AD) - Home to the beautiful Cornbury Park.
- Chinnor (founded pre-1086 AD) - Known for the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway.
- Burford (founded c. 1070 AD) - Known as the 'Gateway to the Cotswolds'.
- Eynsham (founded c. 1005 AD) - Home to the historic Eynsham Abbey.
- Watlington (founded c. 1140 AD) - Known for its annual town festival.
- Goring-on-Thames (founded pre-1086 AD) - Noted for the Goring Gap, a beautiful natural feature.
- Steeple Aston (founded pre-1086 AD) - Home to the beautiful Church of St Peter and St Paul.
- Benson (founded c. 9th Century AD) - Known for its annual summer fair.
- Bampton (founded c. 1086 AD) - Recognized as a filming location for Downton Abbey.
- Sonning Common (founded pre-1086 AD) - Home to the historic All Saints Church.
- Kingston Bagpuize (founded pre-1086 AD) - Known for the stately Kingston Bagpuize House.
- Sutton Courtenay (founded pre-1086 AD) - Resting place of George Orwell.
- Wheatley (founded pre-1086 AD) - Noted for its 18th-century windmill.
- Shipton-under-Wychwood (founded c. 1086 AD) - Noted for its historic Shipton Court.
- Long Hanborough (founded pre-1086 AD) - Home to the Oxford Bus Museum.
- Grove (founded pre-1086 AD) - An important agricultural center during this period.
Notable Natural Features:
- River Thames - Oxfordshire's major waterway, perfect for boating and riverside walks.
- Chiltern Hills - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty perfect for hiking.
- Cotswolds - A picturesque area known for its rolling hills and quaint villages.
Historical Events (1800-1850):
- 1835 - The founding of Oxford University's Keble College.
- 1844 - The opening of the Great Western Railway, connecting Oxford with London.
Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.
This map looks great at all sizes: 8x10in (20.5x25.5cm), 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 30x40in (76x101.5cm) and 37x50in (94x127cm), but it looks even better when printed large.
I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 50in (127cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.
The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45.5x61cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my main collection of UK and Ireland maps.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.
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 2-3cm (0.75in to 1in) 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 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, please get in touch.
See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.
A few different frame colours are available for free (black, brown, white and natural). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.
Alternatively, I can also supply old maps 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 as framed canvases. Please contact me if you'd like to order a size that isn't available on my shop.
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.
For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.
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 specialist printing and framing facilities in 17 countries around the world. 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 can sometimes do next-day delivery 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/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.
I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.
I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.
Learn more about how the Unique Maps Co. sources and restores old maps
Map personalisation
If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.
The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.
To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.
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.
