Cartography – Stanfords Blog

Stanfords Specialist Mapping Services

As well as stores in London and Bristol, we also have a Stanfords For Business map team in Manchester who specialise in mapping for Planning Applications, Land Registry enquiries and much more.

Some customer orders we have worked on include aerial maps of places of worship for a community project, A-Z mapping for a college to help new students familiarise themselves with the local area, historical mapping for a sports club celebrating an anniversary, OS planning application mapping for a farmhouse wanting to add an outbuilding and an OS 1:25k site centred map showing the location of an engagement to give as a wedding gift.

Stanfords is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of mapping and geographic data.

Map of the Month: The Times Desktop Atlas of the World

Give someone the World with our Map of the Month, The Times Desktop Atlas of the World.

“A goldmine of information and for a traveller, irresistible temptation.”- Michael Palin

Everyone needs a good world atlas and this one is perfect for everyday use at home or work. This is the fully updated sixth edition published earlier this year.

Map of the Month: National Geographic Heavens – Majesty of the Night Sky

Our Map of the Month is the National Geographic Heavens – Majesty of the Night Sky Map.

Winner of the British Cartographic Society’s 2024 Stanfords Award for Printed Mapping.

Across time and culture, humanity has gazed at the Heavens and marveled at the beauty and mystery each night provides. This poster was included in the special space issue of National Geographic Magazine. This chart of the stars is an all-new compilation using the latest NASA data on star locations, constellation boundaries, asterisms, and deep-sky objects.

Book of the Month: Brilliant Maps in the Wild

Our Book of the Month for November is Brilliant Maps in the Wild: A Nature Atlas edited by Mike Higgins, illustrated by Manuel Bortoletti.

From the publishers of Brilliant Maps, here is a cartographic journey through our planet’s weirdest and most wonderful phenomena.

Author Talk: History of Cities in Maps by Philip Parker

We were delighted to welcome Philip Parker back to Stanfords on Thursday to talk about his new book History of Cities in Maps.

From ancient civilizations to modern-day metropolises, maps have played a crucial role in urban progress.

#MapMonday: 10 maps we are talking about. Paris edition

10 maps we are talking about. Paris edition

With the Olympics and Paralympics being set in Paris, we’ve been getting lots of enquires about the different kinds of maps we stock. Here are 10 maps on our shelves that we’ve been talking recently:

Stanford’s Map of the Environs of Paris (1870)

£14.99

First up, it’s our August Map of the Month from our Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection archive.

It is dated September 1st 1870 which is just a couple months after the Franco-Prussian War began. The Eiffel Tower wasn’t erected for another nineteen years so you can see the empty space at the Chaps de Mars where the iconic landmark now stands.

It’s fascinating to compare this map with modern maps of Paris. This is definitely one of our most beautiful maps and will appeal to anyone interested in this great city.

Paris Metro Architecture & Design Map

£9

Curated by transport design historian and broadcaster Mark Ovenden, with original photography by Nigel Green, this two-sided cartographic guide is an original and fascinating insight into architecture and graphic design for transport lovers, students of design and anyone interested in the history of Paris. The guide includes a geographical Metro map with featured stations marked, with corresponding photography and details on the reverse along with tips for where to find unique and unusual signage, ornamentation, architecture and more.

Map of the Month: 1870 Stanford’s Map of the Environs of Paris

Our Map of the Month for August is the 1870 Stanford’s Map of the Environs of Paris.

With all eyes on Paris right now, we thought it was a good time to look at this map from our Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection archive. The title reads; ‘Stanford’s map of the environs of Paris shewing the fortifications.’ You can see the fortifications in pink and notice how they form a ring around the old city wall.

It is dated September 1st 1870 which is just a couple months after the Franco-Prussian War began.

The Eiffel Tower wasn’t erected for another nineteen years. In this close-up, you can see the space at the Chaps de Mars where the iconic landmark now stands.

5 Maps We’re Talking About

Here are five maps that have caught our attention recently at Stanfords:

National Parks of Europe Greenground Map

£24.99

NEW

From the graphic designer and map maker that brought you our Map of the Month back in May; The London Greenground Map, Helen Ilus has just launched this new minimalist map that aims to connect Europe’s National Parks with official long-distance walking and cycling routes. With 400+ National Parks, 12 official E-paths and 17 EuroVelo routes, the map is a useful tool for planning nature adventures across Europe either on foot or on bike. The visually stylised map makes the connections between National Parks easy to see and helps with the planning as well as being an inspiring wall map between the adventures.

NEW MAP: London Flipped

Urban Good launches London Flipped, the first ever full-size upside down map of London. This innovative map offers a unique perspective on the capital, challenging conventional viewpoints and inviting Londoners and visitors alike to explore the city in a whole new way.

A Fresh Take on London

London Flipped rotates the traditional map of London by 180°, placing south at the top and north at the bottom. This playful yet thought-provoking reorientation is designed to disrupt conventional navigation and encourage users to reimagine their spatial relationships with the city.

Mike Hall Maps

Currently on display on our gallery wall in the Stanfords Coffee House in our Covent Garden store, is a beautifully curated selection of Mike Hall’s maps.

The full collection of Mike Hall’s Retro London Boroughs are available to buy from Stanfords for £34 each.

These bold, colourful illustrated maps of London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London are inspired by colourful, modernist graphic design of the 1950s and 1960s.