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Maps of the United Kingdom

Many fine maps of Britain and its territories were made by British and other European cartographers by the 17th century. The maps of John Speed are some of the most renowned. Speed began working for the royal customs office under Elizabeth I in 1598. Speed drew up a series of detailed county maps of England and Wales to be included in his atlas "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain." Master cartographer Gerard Mercator created a map of Ireland in 1606 which featured towns, rivers, lakes, forests and mountains. In 1552, Sebastian Munster used woodblock printing to scale London’s streets. Munster’s map of London shows ships in the Thames River and nobles in the foreground.

A 1650 map of the British Isles by Pierre Mariette and Nicolas Sanson represents England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland with the Orkney Islands added. Cities and topographical distinctions are rendered in profile while a sea monster lurks in the water. Royal hydrographer John Seller created an interesting book of charts mapping the coast in 1698. "Atlas Maritimus" includes a colorful map of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. In the upper left quadrant, Neptune carries the British flag.

Pocket maps became a popular navigational device, helping people get from one place to another beginning in Elizabethan times. Although they could be bought for a few shillings, pocket maps contained fine engravings, tables which described walking distances between towns, and directions to market towns. Pocket maps could be bound with the buyer’s choice of poems, newspaper, or other documents.


Quick Facts

  • "The Kingdom of Scotland, The Kingdom of Ireland" by Pieter van den Keere and John Speed sold for more than $844 at a Lyon and Turnbull auction in 2016
  • Willem and Jan Blaeu’s 1662 atlas containing 49 maps of Scotland, missing the six maps of Ireland, sold for more than $5,628 at Lyon and Turnbull in 2014
  • "An Exact Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster" from 1746 by John Roque sold for $22,778 at Sotheby’s in 2015

Recommended Items at Auction

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Two Antique Hand Coloured Mounted Maps of Worcestershire & Staffordshire, England, (1840-1848)
Jun 30, 6:00 PM AEST
Two Antique Hand Coloured Mounted Maps of Worcestershire & Staffordshire, England, (1840-1848)
by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: AUD40- AUD60
AUD201 Bid
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Illustarted Map Set Edinburgh Pictorial Map Scotland
Jun 28, 2:00 AM BST
Illustarted Map Set Edinburgh Pictorial Map Scotland
by Antikbar Original Vintage Posters
Est: £90- £180
£600 Bids
Hayling Island, Maps, Local Interest, Engravings. (qty)
Jun 18, 9:30 AM BST
Hayling Island, Maps, Local Interest, Engravings. (qty)
by Hannam's Auctioneers
Est: £30- £50
£40 Bids
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of Morecambe Bay, 1976.
Jun 19, 4:00 PM CEST
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of Morecambe Bay, 1976.
by Subarna Subastas
Est: €50- €90
€500 Bids
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of the Svern Estuary, 1975.
Jun 19, 4:00 PM CEST
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of the Svern Estuary, 1975.
by Subarna Subastas
Est: €80- €120
€800 Bids
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of the waters and approaches to Southampton, 1974.
Jun 19, 4:00 PM CEST
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of the waters and approaches to Southampton, 1974.
by Subarna Subastas
Est: €80- €120
€800 Bids
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of Falmouth Harbour, 1972.
Jun 19, 4:00 PM CEST
20TH CENTURY ENGLISH SCHOOL. Nautical chart of Falmouth Harbour, 1972.
by Subarna Subastas
Est: €80- €120
€800 Bids
Three framed maps - After James Cochrane Junior - Print map of the Island of Guernsey
Jun 19, 9:30 AM BST
Three framed maps - After James Cochrane Junior - Print map of the Island of Guernsey
by Martel Maides
Est: £120- £150
£950 Bids
Maps: England/Scotland: 21 City and Regional Maps of England; Scotland, 28
Jun 25, 10:00 AM IST
Maps: England/Scotland: 21 City and Regional Maps of England; Scotland, 28
by Purcell Auctioneers
Est: €50- €100
€450 Bids
British Isles. National Savings Map of the British Isles, circa 1954
Jun 18, 10:00 AM BST
British Isles. National Savings Map of the British Isles, circa 1954
by Dominic Winter Auctions
Est: £100- £150
£1000 Bids
Morden - Map of England, Scotland, & Ireland (British Isles)
Jun 21, 9:00 AM CDT
Morden - Map of England, Scotland, & Ireland (British Isles)
by Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
Est: $300- $600
$750 Bids
A large needlework map sampler of Essex,
Jun 18, 10:00 AM BST
A large needlework map sampler of Essex,
by Sworders
Est: £300- £500
£2400 Bids
Book & Maps: A Reproduction of A Map of the County…
Jun 29, 9:00 AM BST
Book & Maps: A Reproduction of A Map of the County…
by Claydon Auctioneers
Est: £40- £60
£400 Bids
Map: A 17thC engraved map of Buckinghamshire with …
Jun 29, 9:00 AM BST
Map: A 17thC engraved map of Buckinghamshire with …
by Claydon Auctioneers
Est: £30- £50
£300 Bids
A quantity of folding maps to include Buckinghamsh…
Jun 29, 9:00 AM BST
A quantity of folding maps to include Buckinghamsh…
by Claydon Auctioneers
Est: £30- £50
£300 Bids
BRITISH MAPS OF ZEPPELIN ATTACKS ON ENGLAND (6)
Jun 27, 10:00 AM EDT
BRITISH MAPS OF ZEPPELIN ATTACKS ON ENGLAND (6)
by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
Est: $200- $300
$1000 Bids
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"A MAPP OF ST ANDREW'S HOLBORN PARISH" 11.5" x 14" sight. Framed 17.25" x 20".
Jun 24, 9:30 AM EDT
"A MAPP OF ST ANDREW'S HOLBORN PARISH" 11.5" x 14" sight. Framed 17.25" x 20".
by Eldred's
Est: $100- $200
$500 Bids
§ Sir Grayson Perry C.B.E. R.A. (British b.1960)
Jul 03, 11:00 AM BST
§ Sir Grayson Perry C.B.E. R.A. (British b.1960)
by Chiswick Auctions
Est: £70,000- £100,000
£60,0000 Bids
Map, Robert Morden
Jun 21, 9:30 AM PDT
Map, Robert Morden
by Clars Auctions
Est: $50- $100
$200 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Maps of the United Kingdom


Subarna Subastas

Subarna Subastas

Claydon Auctioneers

Claydon Auctioneers

Hannam's Auctioneers

Hannam's Auctioneers

Eldred's

Eldred's