Taking a look at the maps in my cupboard.....
Collecting Maps : Ordnance Survey - An introduction
The next in my 'cupboard under the stairs collection' is my large hoard of OS maps.
Ordnance survey maps are generally the easiest to come by on the open market and also the easiest to document.
Arguably the most accurate and well known maps around....
What is the Ordnance Survey?
Ordnance survey is the national mapping agency of Britian. It produces highly detailed large and small scale maps of the UK.
Ordnance Survey Ltd is a government owned company and is the world's largest producer of maps.
The words 'Ordance Survey' perfectly describe the agencies original task of military strategic surveying.
Following the Jacobite uprising in Scotland in 1745 and then a potential revolution spreading from France at the end of the 1700s the British government felt it was necessary to instruct the board of ordance to completely map the south coast of England which would be a weak point should the French invade.
Until this time maps were very vague and moving troops and military planning was extremely difficult.
The need for accurate maps to indicate land features for placing troops, for hiding behind and for aiming at was crucial.
Ordnance survey cartographers developed a way of splitting the country into large geographic triangles which could then be broken down into smaller triangles and intersection points taken. Triangulation was the key feature in the early pioneering days of the OS.
The very first Ordance survey map was published in 1801 and took three years to complete. This first edition covered the county of Kent, the nearest county to the English channel and France.
Today Ordnance survey maps are considered the best and most accurate in the world.
Over 200 years of continuous careful fine tuning have made these British maps extremely accurate, elegant to look at and collectable in antiquity.
These are not just maps, they are works of art.
Ordnance Survey 1896 - 1920
Underneath a layer of dust and nostalgia lies my oldest ordnance survey maps. Lacking in colour and reeking of military blandness these ancient maps were definately better suited to the soldier than the cyclist.Dating somewhere just before 1900 is this sparsely labelled map of east derbyshire and more specifically Charlesworth, Edale and surrounding area.
In the early days of the OS map such luxuries as a symbol legend, scales ruler and even a border were not considered important when producing a map (or not at least on this series). These early maps were not as readily available as one might think. Certainly not in every book shop. Ordnance survey relied on agents to distribute their maps in the olden days so grabbing a map might have involved placing an order beforehand.
1896 - 1902 Wensleydale, Aysgarth, Wensley, Middleham and Masham
1 inch to 1 mile scale - Mounted on cloth
dating between 1896-1902 this rather bland looking document represents the first of a small batch of really old OS maps which reside in my cupboard.
This map, covering the Wensleydale district of Yorkshire seems to have been part of numbered series although the exact series is unknown. Handy for me that I have a similar part work of Wensleydale (up next) which fits together perfectly along side this one to form part of a larger map. Interesting.
The map is made from paper sections mounted on cloth and then fixed to a card cover. Despite it's age this map has shown no signs of fading, peeling or cloth fraying which is mainly due to the quality of the workmanship. Being handmade adds a certain feeling of quality about it. Due to the very nature of map production at that time it's highly likely that this map and it's wider set were made in very small quantites and so they become rare on the market today.
This map is printed on the popular 1 inch to 1 mile scale.
1896 - 1902: Wensleydale, Leyburn and Richmond (Yorkshire)
1 inch to 1 mile - Mounted on cloth
Here is the second ancient map from the Wensleydale set. Once again handmade to a very high standard. Once again made from paper sections, cloth backing and given semi rigid covers.
Dating this map is virtually impossible due to the lack of margins or indication on the covers. The best guess has to be between 1896-1902 although this is conservative. Both of these little Wensleydale maps could have been made from 1870.
Once again the craftsmanship here is fantastic.
The estimated value of these maps is around £15 each if you can find them.
1898 - 1902: Charlesworth, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Castleton and Tideswell (Derbyshire)
1 inch to 1 mile - Mounted on cloth
In a similar style to the previous two maps we have this fine document of Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire. Produced at the turn of the century this 1 inch to 1 mile scale map looks remarkably good for 118 years old.
Once again this map was handmade with paper map sections mounted on cloth but this time no outer covers.
This map shares many similarities with the previous two maps but differs in the way it was mounted on it's cloth backing.
Those who are paying attention would have noticed the distinct lack of a margin on the very earliest maps in my cupboard. The reason for this is still a mystery although one theory is that the Ordnance survey agent (bookseller) might have cut down a much larger map themselves and then mounted these smaller sections on card and cloth? It is certainly a possibility.
1912 Large scale 3rd series: Ashford and Tenterden (Kent)
1 inch to 1 mile - Mounted on cloth
Lastly we have this old map of Ashford in Kent. A fine example of an early dated third edition of the popular series scaled 1 inch to 1 mile.
This map like the previous three in this post has all the charm and attractiveness of a prison menu. A little bland and unappetising. Still along way away from the pretty watercolour printed covers of the later popular editions.
The authorised OS map agent Blinko & Sons
This map is a fine example of a dealer copy which still displays the name of the agent who would have ordered and sold these maps for Ordnance survey. Blinko & sons as a business has probably long since faded in the mists of time.
Last revision - 1912
The overall condition of this map is very good considering it is over a century old. The covers are in good shape despite a few minor stains here and there. The map sheet itself is in remarkable condition probably owing to the fact that it is mounted on cloth. This map doesn't appear to have been used very much either. The margins are clean and smudge free, the folds are still crisp and no part of the cloth backing has bubbled due to moisture.
Early OS maps were not reknown for their colourful looks but with this edition a change of sorts can be seen.
The current value of this map is hard to gage. But as they don't tend to show up very often it's safe to say that the true value is probably around £12-£15.
That concludes my current stock of very old OS maps. I do have many more younger maps which I plan on covering very soon.
