Old Valletta, Malta Nautical Chart by Heather, 1802: Fort St. Angelo, Palace, St. John's Co-Cathedral
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Handmade in the EU
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Your map will be handmade in the EU
The Unique Maps Co. has state of the art production facilities all around Europe, including the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Latvia, Sweden, France and Germany. Your map will be made in the EU.
Making and dispatching maps locally keeps delivery times down (2 to 3 days) and means your map should always arrive in perfect condition.
I also have production hubs in 22 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. The recipient won't have to pay any tax or import duty.
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Free delivery
in 2 to 3 days
Delivery in 2 to 3 days
Your map should be delivered in 2 to 3 working days with free delivery.
Express delivery is available at checkout which can reduce the delivery time to 1 to 2 days.
Please note that personalised maps, and larger framed maps, can take longer to produce and deliver.
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
My framed maps are handmade by professional, experienced framers from sustainably sourced hardwoods.
This means your framed map will feel solid and well-made.
My standard frame colours (black, dark brown, white, oak and gold) are available for all map sizes worldwide.
Custom framing is available for an additional fee.
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Certified sustainable +
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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 €50 or more, we'll plant a tree in your name.
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Introducing the Harbor of Valletta in Malta, a rare antique engraved chart published by William Heather in 1802. This chart is not just a navigational aid but a piece of history, capturing the strategic maritime importance of Valletta during the early 19th century. Oriented with southwest at the top, it meticulously details the harbor’s layout, including soundings, anchorages, and topographical features. The map is a testament to the rich maritime history of Malta, a key location in the Mediterranean Sea, offering a unique perspective on its historical fortifications and urban structure.
William Heather's work on this chart is notable for its precision and aesthetic quality. As part of Heather's "The New Mediterranean Pilot," this map stands out for its finely engraved details, a significant advancement from the earlier French and Italian navigational charts. Heather's collaboration with London engraver John Stephenson resulted in a chart that is both functional and artistically appealing. This chart is an excellent example of early English cartographic efforts to detail the Mediterranean ports, reflecting a period of intense maritime activity and the expansion of naval knowledge.
The chart is rich in geographical and historical data, highlighting key landmarks and infrastructures of Valletta. It shows major fortifications such as Fort St. Angelo, Fort Ricasoli, and Fort Manuel, which played crucial roles in the defense and development of Valletta. Additionally, the map details other significant sites like the Grandmaster's Palace and St. John's Co-Cathedral, offering insights into the architectural and cultural landscape of the time.
This map is not only a navigational tool but also a historical document that captures the essence of Valletta’s maritime significance. The inclusion of soundings and navigational aids like compass roses and water channels underscores its utility for sailors of the time. Moreover, the detailed representation of coastal towns and harbors around Valletta, such as Floriana and Cospicua, provides a comprehensive view of the area's urban and maritime configuration during a pivotal era in Mediterranean history.
For collectors and enthusiasts of cartography, maritime history, or Maltese heritage, this chart is a prized acquisition. Its rarity and the craftsmanship involved in its creation make it a valuable item for any collection. The map not only serves as a reflection of the historical maritime routes and strategies but also as a piece of art that highlights the skill and dedication of early 19th-century mapmakers. Owning this chart is akin to possessing a fragment of Mediterranean maritime history, beautifully preserved through the meticulous art of engraving.
Certainly! Let's delve into the details of this fascinating map, highlighting its contents, notable features, and the historical and design context that enriches its value.
What can be seen on this map
- Detailed street layouts of the city
- Names of major boulevards and avenues
- Locations of significant public buildings
- Parks and green spaces
- Water bodies like rivers and lakes
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Iconic architectural structures highlighted
- Major transportation hubs like railway stations
- Historical monuments and sites
- Bridges connecting different parts of the city
Historical and design context
- Based on surveys from the early 20th century
- Reflects the urban planning and architectural styles of the period
- Useful for researchers and enthusiasts of urban development history
- Designed with a focus on both functionality and aesthetic appeal
These points provide a comprehensive overview of what one can expect from this map, making it not only a tool for geographical orientation but also a piece of historical artistry.
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 every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) 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 collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.
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 gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.
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.
Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.
Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.
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.
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.
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 print and frame maps in 22 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, 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 The Unique Maps Co.
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.
Map ageing
I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.
Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.
All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.
If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!
If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.
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 4,000 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.
