Rare Old Map of Bellevue, Washington by USGS, 1950: Seattle, Mercer Island & Lake Washington
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1968 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in the EU
Restored from the original 1968 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
Own a piece of history
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The U.S. Geological Survey’s “Mercer Island” presents a finely observed 1:24,000 topographical portrait of the Lake Washington corridor, dated 1950 and issued...
Continue readingThe U.S. Geological Survey’s “Mercer Island” presents a finely observed 1:24,000 topographical portrait of the Lake Washington corridor, dated 1950 and issued with a 1968 imprint. Centered on Mercer Island and the fast-changing Eastside, the map captures Bellevue, portions of Seattle, Lake Washington, and the surrounding residential and park landscapes at a pivotal moment in the region’s postwar growth. Its original title has a quiet elegance: direct, geographic, and precise, in the tradition of USGS quadrangle mapping. Bright blues define the lake’s intricate shorelines and smaller water bodies, while green parklands and clearly drawn contour lines reveal the undulating terrain that shaped settlement, transportation, and recreation around one of the Pacific Northwest’s most desirable urban waterways.
Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map reflects the institution’s hallmark combination of scientific rigor and understated cartographic beauty. USGS topographic maps were created for practical use—engineering, land planning, navigation, recreation, and research—but they also preserve a remarkably detailed visual record of American landscapes. Here, contour intervals trace hills, ravines, and lowlands with methodical clarity, giving the viewer a tactile sense of the land beneath the city. Roads and highways appear in vivid red, standing out against the softer greens and blues of parks, forests, and water. The result is a map that balances technical precision with a distinctly mid-century graphic character.
Mercer Island itself sits as the map’s natural centerpiece, elongated between the broad western and eastern arms of Lake Washington. Its shoreline is carefully articulated, with named points such as Coleman Point and South Point anchoring the island’s geography. Across the water, Seattle appears to the west, while Bellevue occupies the eastern shore, still visibly shaped by residential neighborhoods, local roads, and open spaces rather than the dense skyline now associated with the city. Parks, smaller lakes, and waterways punctuate the terrain, giving the map a layered quality: part urban document, part environmental study, part record of the intimate relationship between settlement and water.
Historically, this map is especially evocative because it records Bellevue and Mercer Island before the full force of late twentieth-century metropolitan expansion transformed the Eastside. The Lake Washington crossings had already begun to reorganize regional movement, linking Seattle with Mercer Island and Bellevue and accelerating suburban growth. Yet the landscape shown here still retains the spacing, green breaks, and shoreline settlement patterns of an earlier era. The red road network reveals the emerging framework of modern mobility, while the contours and parklands recall the natural topography that continued to guide development. For collectors, it offers a compelling snapshot of a region on the threshold of dramatic change.
The visual appeal of the “Mercer Island” quadrangle lies in its fusion of disciplined survey work and richly legible design. Elevation changes ripple across the sheet in fine contour lines, making the hills and depressions around Lake Washington immediately intelligible. Blues give the lake and smaller water bodies a cool brilliance, while greens emphasize parks and vegetated areas, softening the urban grid. Bellevue, Seattle, Mercer Island, roads, residential districts, points, parks, and waterways all coexist in a composition that is both functional and quietly beautiful. As a historical topographic map, it preserves not only place names and infrastructure, but the lived geography of a mid-century Pacific Northwest landscape.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Bellevue
- Seattle
- Mercer Island
- Lake Washington
- South Puget Sound
- Great Park
- Kampala
- Coleman Point
- South Point
- Various Parks
- Roads and Highways indicated with red lines
- Contour lines indicating elevation changes
- Multiple smaller water bodies and lakes
- Residential areas and neighborhoods
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map
- Dated 1950 with a 1968 imprint
- Shows Bellevue, Washington and the surrounding area
- Uses bright greens and blues to distinguish landforms and water bodies
- Clearly marked contour lines emphasize hills, depressions, and terrain variation
- Reflects mid-20th-century land use patterns, natural features, and urban development
- Valuable as a snapshot of an area later changed by growth and environmental transformation
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
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.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s “Mercer Island” presents a finely observed 1:24,000 topographical portrait of the Lake Washington corridor, dated 1950 and issued with a 1968 imprint. Centered on Mercer Island and the fast-changing Eastside, the map captures Bellevue, portions of Seattle, Lake Washington, and the surrounding residential and park landscapes at a pivotal moment in the region’s postwar growth. Its original title has a quiet elegance: direct, geographic, and precise, in the tradition of USGS quadrangle mapping. Bright blues define the lake’s intricate shorelines and smaller water bodies, while green parklands and clearly drawn contour lines reveal the undulating terrain that shaped settlement, transportation, and recreation around one of the Pacific Northwest’s most desirable urban waterways.
Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map reflects the institution’s hallmark combination of scientific rigor and understated cartographic beauty. USGS topographic maps were created for practical use—engineering, land planning, navigation, recreation, and research—but they also preserve a remarkably detailed visual record of American landscapes. Here, contour intervals trace hills, ravines, and lowlands with methodical clarity, giving the viewer a tactile sense of the land beneath the city. Roads and highways appear in vivid red, standing out against the softer greens and blues of parks, forests, and water. The result is a map that balances technical precision with a distinctly mid-century graphic character.
Mercer Island itself sits as the map’s natural centerpiece, elongated between the broad western and eastern arms of Lake Washington. Its shoreline is carefully articulated, with named points such as Coleman Point and South Point anchoring the island’s geography. Across the water, Seattle appears to the west, while Bellevue occupies the eastern shore, still visibly shaped by residential neighborhoods, local roads, and open spaces rather than the dense skyline now associated with the city. Parks, smaller lakes, and waterways punctuate the terrain, giving the map a layered quality: part urban document, part environmental study, part record of the intimate relationship between settlement and water.
Historically, this map is especially evocative because it records Bellevue and Mercer Island before the full force of late twentieth-century metropolitan expansion transformed the Eastside. The Lake Washington crossings had already begun to reorganize regional movement, linking Seattle with Mercer Island and Bellevue and accelerating suburban growth. Yet the landscape shown here still retains the spacing, green breaks, and shoreline settlement patterns of an earlier era. The red road network reveals the emerging framework of modern mobility, while the contours and parklands recall the natural topography that continued to guide development. For collectors, it offers a compelling snapshot of a region on the threshold of dramatic change.
The visual appeal of the “Mercer Island” quadrangle lies in its fusion of disciplined survey work and richly legible design. Elevation changes ripple across the sheet in fine contour lines, making the hills and depressions around Lake Washington immediately intelligible. Blues give the lake and smaller water bodies a cool brilliance, while greens emphasize parks and vegetated areas, softening the urban grid. Bellevue, Seattle, Mercer Island, roads, residential districts, points, parks, and waterways all coexist in a composition that is both functional and quietly beautiful. As a historical topographic map, it preserves not only place names and infrastructure, but the lived geography of a mid-century Pacific Northwest landscape.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Bellevue
- Seattle
- Mercer Island
- Lake Washington
- South Puget Sound
- Great Park
- Kampala
- Coleman Point
- South Point
- Various Parks
- Roads and Highways indicated with red lines
- Contour lines indicating elevation changes
- Multiple smaller water bodies and lakes
- Residential areas and neighborhoods
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map
- Dated 1950 with a 1968 imprint
- Shows Bellevue, Washington and the surrounding area
- Uses bright greens and blues to distinguish landforms and water bodies
- Clearly marked contour lines emphasize hills, depressions, and terrain variation
- Reflects mid-20th-century land use patterns, natural features, and urban development
- Valuable as a snapshot of an area later changed by growth and environmental transformation
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
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.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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