This is the greatest old map of London ever created. Put together by surveyor and cartographer John Rocque and engraver John Pine in 1746, this map has an incredible level of detail. The cities of London and Westminster are already quite developed, but south of the river in Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham it's still mostly fields.
This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16 inches (31x41cm), 18x24 inches (45.5x61cm) and 24x36 inches (61x91.5cm), but it looks even better when printed large.
I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 50 inches tall (125cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.
The model in the listing images is holding the 24x18 inch (61x45.5cm) version of this map.
This map was originally published in 24 sheets. The map shown here is sheet G2, which focuses on the bit of the Thames that has Wapping and Shadwell on the north side and a small bit of Rotherhithe on the south side. It covers parts of Tower Hamlets and Southwark, and a big chunk of the Thames.
The map extends about as far as Schoolhouse Lane in the northeast, and the bottom left is roughly where Wapping train station and High Street are today. Many of the street names have changed - or, in the case of streets near the water, simply don't exist any more.
St Marys Church, however, over in Rotherhithe is on this map and still exists today. The same with St Pauls in Shadwell.
Take a look at the listing images and you'll see that, even by the mid-18th century, many of London's street names and landmarks already exist - particularly in built-up areas like Westminster and the City of London. It's a different story south of the river, of course - parts of Southwark may be recognisable if you look closely, but Lambeth is just a handful of roads and fields that no longer exist.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving or housewarming gift for someone from London or who has the capital of England close to their heart.
I can also print and frame the complete map of London by John Rocque, all 24 sheets, at sizes up to a few metres wide.
I also have lots of other maps of London, including big maps that include the London suburbs.
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.