Enquiries & copies
We are happy to supply printouts, digital images and photocopies of these maps. All orders should be made through the online ordering facility on this website.
Please navigate to the map or maps you wish to order, and select the Order this map button, to the top right of the map menu bar.
If you wish to order maps you are viewing in the Georeferenced Maps viewer, you will need to view the map in our standard non-georeferenced image viewer to order it. To navigate to the map in the image viewer from the Georeferenced Maps viewer, you can either follow the View this map link in the Georeferenced Maps viewer, or switch to the Map Finder viewer by selecting this link in the header to locate the specific map.
Once you have selected the 'Order this map' button, you will then be prompted for the required details - whether you would like an image, printout or photocopy, and your preferred size. Maps are usually printed at the same size as their originals (given under 'Pagination'), but enlargements or reductions can be done on request. Photocopies can be made of most maps subject to conservation considerations.
Further information is available on How to order map copies and on Map sizes, enlargements and reductions.
For general enquiries about printouts, images, and the website, please look at our Frequently Asked Questions. For any other queries, please contact us.
Printouts
Customised printouts of any scanned image can be provided, up to A0 size. All prints are at 600 dpi, in colour or greyscale, creating very high-quality reproductions.
| Standard copy sizes (map sizes are given for each map under 'Pagination') |
Price |
|---|---|
| A4 210 mm x 297 mm or 8.3" x 11.7" |
£7.50 (£6.25 exc. VAT) |
| A3 297 mm x 420 mm or 11.7" x 16.5 |
£10.80 (£9.00 exc. VAT) |
| A2 420 mm x 594 mm or 16.5" x 23.4" |
£14.70 (£12.25 exc. VAT) |
| A1 594 mm x 841 mm or 23.4" x 33.3" |
£22.20 (£18.50 exc. VAT) |
| A0 841 mm x 1189 mm or 33.3" x 46.8" |
£33.00 (£27.50 exc. VAT) |
See Frequently Asked Questions - Printouts for further information.
Digital Images
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| A JPEG file supplied by electronic download | £12.00 (£10.00 exc. VAT) |
| A TIFF file supplied by electronic download | £18.60 (£15.50 exc. VAT) |
To order TIFF downloads, please e-mail maps@nls.uk.
See Frequently Asked Questions - Images for further information.
Photocopies
We also can supply a range of standard photocopies of these paper maps, subject to conservation restrictions. We usually photocopy maps at the same size as the original item, but we can enlarge or reduce if required. The price reflects the eventual size of the photocopy.
| Standard copy sizes (map sizes are given for each map under 'Pagination') |
Price |
|---|---|
| A4 210 mm x 297 mm or 8.3" x 11.7" |
£1.00 (£0.83 exc. VAT) |
| A3 297 mm x 420 mm or 11.7" x 16.5" |
£1.10 (£0.92 exc. VAT) |
| A2 420 mm x 594 mm or 16.5" x 23.4" |
£10.20 (£8.50 exc. VAT) |
| A1 594 mm x 841 mm or 23.4" x 33.3" |
£11.40 (£9.50 exc. VAT) |
| A0 841 mm x 1189 mm or 33.3" x 46.8" |
£12.60 (£10.50 exc. VAT) |
Postage and packaging prices
| Product | UK | EU | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic downloads | Free | Free | Free |
| A3 or smaller prints/photocopies | £7.26 (£6.05 exc. VAT) | £13.80 (£11.50 exc. VAT) | £17.50 exc. VAT |
| A2 or larger prints/photocopies | £13.86 (£11.55 exc. VAT) | £19.14 (£15.95 exc. VAT) | £27.00 exc. VAT |
Post and packing prices are flat rates for any number of items (except for A4 and A3 sheets).
Orders containing a mixture of items types are charged at the highest applicable postage rate.
Frequently Asked Questions - Digital printouts and images
These questions have been grouped below under Printouts, Images, Ordering and Payment, and Website. The dimensions of standard copy sizes (A0-A4) are given above, and within the online payment procedure.
Printouts
What is the difference between a colour or a greyscale printout?
A colour printout will resemble our original map, resulting in a vibrant, realistic reproduction, similar to the website image. Greyscale images are uncoloured, capturing the tones of the original map through a set of shades between black and white. Greyscale printouts are often recommended when the original map is heavily discoloured, or if the original map has no colour.
How big will the map printout be?
We prefer to print all map images at the same size as their original map, for best clarity and representation of features. The size of the original map is given under the Pagination, apart from for the Ordnance Survey town plans, that are typically sized about 27 x 40 inches (70 x 100 cm), height by width (with maps on these sheets sized 24 x 36 inches (61 x 92 cm)). However, enlargements or reductions are possible on request - see below.
Is it possible to enlarge or reduce printouts to particular sizes?
Although we can reduce any map down to A4 size, or enlarge any map to A0 size, there are practical limitations on the degree to which this can be done whilst also retaining legibility. As a rule of thumb, most of our maps cannot be reduced to less than a quarter of their original size without loss of detail, with names and features becoming illegible. For example, an A1-sized map cannot usually be reduced to A4 size or smaller without the result being illegible. However, much depends on the font and feature size of the original map, and we know that the Ordnance Survey 1:500 scale town plans can be reduced from A0-size to A2-size quite successfully. Enlargements are also possible up to our largest paper size of 42 inches, creating bolder, bigger text and features. However, most maps will be perfectly legible and clear printed at the same size as their original map, and we cannot guarantee the legibility of reduced or enlarged maps.
The map on the website is shown as separate images. Can these be joined?
Maps on our website that are shown as separate images, reflect the fact that the original maps we scanned them from are also on separate sheets. As these images often have differences of orientation, it is often impossible to join them seamlessly, and so we prefer to supply them as separate printouts. However, for a single sheet map scanned in sections, although we cannot guarantee a seamless result, we are prepared to try this, depending on the map, and provide a quote in advance for the extra charge involved. Please contact maps@nls.uk over this.
If maps form part of a series, we have often created seamless layers which can be viewed in our Georeferenced Maps viewer. You can print or save an image of the seamless layer or detail from it at any time using the Print Button / Tool.
If maps form part of a series, it is also possible to bring these georeferenced, seamless layers into Geographic Information System (GIS) software, and then print or save images. Please consult our guide on Viewing our georeferenced maps within GIS or other software.
Is it possible to order sections of a map?
Yes, provided that the part of the map you are interested in can be specified, and you do not want anything smaller than A2 size. For example, "an A2-sized colour printout (landscape orientation) of the bottom right of the map" or "an A1-sized greyscale printout (portrait orientation) centred on XXX" would be fine. It is also helpful if you can quote the URL of the page you are looking at, and click on the 'Link to this view' tab, which generates a longer, specific URL linking to a part of a map:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/[image_no]#zoom=X&lat=Y&lon=Z.
Read Further information on linking to specific views. Please contact us at maps@nls.uk over this.
Will the map printouts be suitable for framing?
We know that many of our printouts have been successfully framed. All our maps are printed out with at least a 2 cm (1 inch) white border, which can be greater if necessary, in addition to the map's own border. The heavyweight (170 grams per square metre weight) paper is also often robust enough to not require further strengthening. We print using toner-based inks that have excellent colour fastness (retaining their colour for much longer in sunshine) compared to ink jet inks.
What paper is used for the printout?
Currently we supply all printouts on white heavyweight coated paper (170 grams per square metre) as this is both compatible with our printer, achieves good results, and is fairly sturdy and robust for future use. We cannot use handmade or "antique" paper with our printer, but most of our colour printouts, with their white borders trimmed away, are surprisingly similar in appearance to their original maps.
How are map printouts sent out in the post?
All maps at A3-size or larger are carefully rolled, enclosed in tissue paper, and sent in a thick cardboard tube. In general we have had very few problems of maps getting damaged in the post, and on the few occasions this happens, we usually are happy to provide replacements at no extra cost. For A4-sized maps or smaller, we usually send these in a flat envelope, but these can be sent in a tube if you would prefer.
Can I obtain copies of in-copyright Ordnance Survey maps from you?
Yes, the National Library of Scotland is an Ordnance Survey Licensed Partner. This allows us to make copies of in-copyright OS maps published within the last 50 years and before 31 December 1995. Read further details about obtaining copies of in-copyright Ordnance Survey maps.
Can I republish, sell or supply the printouts on to third parties?
Yes, unless the material we supply is protected by third party copyright or subject to a re-use restriction. See our Maps copyright page for information about re-use conditions and exceptions.
Images
How big are images of maps?
All our master images are full-colour TIFF images, and their size reflects their method of capture. Nearly all of our early maps before 1750, all maps from volumes, and nearly all military maps were captured by the same overhead digital camera, and are therefore all 140 Mb. Most of our later maps after 1750, and maps on sheets were captured by a sheet-feed scanner, and image sizes vary between 180 Mb for an A2-sized map to 720 Mb for an A0-sized map. Upon request, for ease of transmission and usage, we can reduce colour down from 24 bit (16.7 million colour) to 8 bit (256 colours) colour modes, without any appreciable difference to image display, and this reduces image sizes to one-third of their master image size. So for example, most A2-sized images would be 60 Mb, A1-sized images would be 120 Mb, and A0-sized images would be 240 Mb.
Can images be downloaded?
Yes. In our Map Images viewer, the Print PDF tab to the lower left will generate a default A3 landscape PDF of your current map view. Read further information about the Print PDF function. In our Map Images viewer, by choosing the 'Full screen' tab, the header and footer will also disappear to show more of the original map. You can also take screengrabs or use snipping tools to save images.
If maps form part of a series, we have often created seamless layers which can be viewed in our Georeferenced Maps viewer. You can print or save an image of the seamless layer or detail from it at any time using the Print Button / Tool. It is also possible to bring these georeferenced, seamless layers into Geographic Information System (GIS) software, and then print or save images. Please consult our guide on Viewing our georeferenced maps within GIS or other software.
Please ensure any re-use of images follows their conditions of re-use - read further information.
If you wish to order images, just choose the 'Digital Image (JPEG, electronic download)' option when ordering the map. Your image will be prepared, and subsequently you will receive a download link via email.
It is also possible to order TIFFs for download by e-mailing: maps@nls.uk.
Can images be attached to an email?
Due to image size, we generally cannot attach images to emails without compressing and degrading image quality. However, where just a small image of low resolution is needed urgently, we are willing to attach these to email messages.
What is the resolution of the images?
Nearly all of our early maps before 1750, all maps from volumes, and military maps were captured by an overhead digital camera, and resolution therefore varies between about 280 dpi for an A2-sized image to 400 dpi for an A4-sized image. Most of our later maps after 1750, and maps on sheets were captured by a 400 dpi sheet-feed scanner. We have scanned some map series with finer line work at 600 dpi.
Is it possible to enlarge or reduce images to particular sizes?
As nearly all imaging software can enlarge or reduce images to particular sizes, we always supply our images at the same pixel size as our master TIFF images, leaving it to the end user to adjust the size as required. Apart from our pre-1750 images, which were captured with an overhead camera, the map image size is the same size as the original map. Please note that although all map images can be reduced in size with imaging software, as a rule of thumb, most maps cannot be reduced to less than a quarter of their original size without loss of information. Similarly, if maps are enlarged beyond 3-4 times their original size, the results may look crude and aesthetically pleasing only from a distance. Read further information on map sizes, enlargements and reductions.
The map on the website is shown as separate images. Can these be joined?
Maps on our website that are shown as separate images, usually reflect the fact that the original maps we scanned them from are also on separate sheets. However, due to technical limitations at the time, some pre-1750 maps larger than A1 size had to be scanned in more than one image. As these separate images often have differences of orientation, it is often impossible to join them seamlessly, and so we prefer to supply them as separate images.
If maps form part of a series, we have often created seamless layers which can be viewed in our Georeferenced Maps viewer. You can also print or save an image of the seamless layer or detail from it at any time using the Print Button / Tool.
If maps form part of a series, it is also possible to bring these georeferenced, seamless layers into Geographic Information System (GIS) software, and then print or save images. Please consult our guide on Viewing our georeferenced maps within GIS or other software.
For maps scanned in sections, although we cannot guarantee a seamless result, we are prepared to try stitching them together, depending on the map, and provide a quote in advance if there are extra charges involved. Please note that joining multiple images successively increases image size, requiring more powerful computers or compression for the final image to be usable successfully. Please contact maps@nls.uk if you would like separate images to be joined.
Is it possible to annotate images before saving them?
Yes, all of our maps can be annotated in our Map Images viewer. Select the 'Draw' tab in the footer - read further information about drawing features. To save the image as a PDF, select 'Print PDF' to the lower left and a PDF will be generated including the features you have drawn.
For georeferenced maps, in our Georeferenced Maps viewer, if you select the Draw / Trace Features button to the upper right, you can draw or trace new features. You can print or save an image of your sketch or tracing at any time using the
Print Button. You can also export your drawing as a KML (Keyhole Markup Language), GPX, or GeoJSON file, saving the geographic coordinates, features and styles of your drawing.
What is the difference between a TIFF and a JPEG image?
The main difference is that the JPEG image is a much smaller file (usually 10-15% of the size of the TIFF image) with compressed colour. However, both our TIFF and our JPEG images have the same high-resolution, and for standard desktop viewing our JPEG and TIFF images will look the same. Our TIFF images have 24 bit colour ( three Red, Green and Blue channels with 8 bits each) so allowing a colour palette of 16.7 million colours, and store the original captured colour in a lossless format. TIFF images will create a better result if you wish to manipulate the images in any way, if you wish to georeference them, or enlarge them. Our JPEG images are saved at Photoshop Quality Setting 10 (out of a Maximum Quality Setting of 12). This is a high quality setting and although it compresses the colour in the image in a lossy way, this is rarely visible for standard desktop viewing. JPEG files achieve a smaller file size by compressing the image in a way that retains detail which matters most, while discarding details that have a lower visual impact. Whilst our JPEG images are deliberately priced to be cheaper than our TIFF images as they do have compressed colour, for most standard viewing purposes, the quality setting we use ensures that the map detail is as clear as in the TIFF image.
Are your images available through IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework)?
Yes, all of our zoomable map images have IIIF Presentation API endpoints. In our Map Images viewer, select the 'Show IIIF' tab in the footer - read further information on the 'Show IIIF' tab.
Will I need any viewing software to look at the images?
Yes. Any image viewing software system that can open a JPEG or TIFF image will be satisfactory, including Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, PaintShop Pro, GIMP, Imaging, Picture Viewer or Irfanview. Most web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, can view a JPEG image by dragging and dropping it into the browser. If necessary, images can be supplied in other formats (eg. BMP, PNG) upon request.
Can the images be displayed on Windows and Apple / Mac computers?
Yes. Our images are supplied in non-proprietary cross-platform JPEG or TIFF formats which are readable on both systems. Although we cannot guarantee the readability of the images on any computer, we are not aware of any readability problems in recent years. We are happy to provide further advice on this.
Can I publish, sell or supply your images on to third parties?
Yes, unless the material we supply is protected by third party copyright or subject to a re-use restriction. See our Maps copyright page for information about re-using maps and exceptions (where our standard Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) licence does not apply).
Ordering and payment
How long will it take to complete the order?
Once orders are received, we usually respond within two working days to confirm details, and once confirmed, we aim to complete and despatch most of these orders within one week. Larger orders of five maps or more may take longer, and we can provide a general estimate of how long this will take in advance.
Is it possible to collect the printouts/images from the Maps Reading Room?
Yes. Just let us know if you would prefer this when you order, and we can let you know once items are ready for collection.
What will the total cost be?
The total cost will include:
- the prices of the printouts/images,
- plus postage and packing (for orders mailed out),
- plus VAT (for orders within the European Union).
How can I pay for the printouts/images?
For all online orders, we require online payment using credit/debit card or paypal, at the point of ordering.
Further information is available on How to order map copies, as well as on our Map sizes, enlargements and reductions page.
Website
What guides or help have you got on the website?
Please see our Guide to this website for a general overview, our Site Map page for a summary list of pages, as well as our About this website page. See Research guides for help in exploring particular subjects, or Information about early maps. You can also read help on our map viewers, or view information on Copyright and reproducing images.
Is it possible to provide links to map pages on the NLS website?
Yes, we are very happy to encourage links to our web pages. In general, we try to ensure the long-term stability of URLs that take the form:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/[image_no]
You can also link to specific parts of maps using the 'Link to this view' tab, which generates a longer, specific URL linking to a part of a map:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/[image_no]#zoom=X&lat=Y&lon=Z.
Read Further information on linking to specific views.
Please ensure any re-use of images on other websites follows our Copyright / Re-use regulations.
I would like to suggest corrections or improvements to the website?
We are always grateful for corrections or suggestions for improvement or additions to the website. Please email maps@nls.uk with your suggestion. For corrections, it is always helpful if you can quote the URL of the page you are looking at. Please note that only a selection of our map collections have been scanned so far, and we are continually expanding on this selection as resources allow.
For further queries, please contact us at maps@nls.uk
Standard copy sizes
(map sizes are given for each map under 'Pagination')
- A4 210 mm x 297 mm or 8.3" x 11.7"
- A3 297 mm x 420 mm or 11.7" x 16.5"
- A2 420 mm x 594 mm or 16.5" x 23.4"
- A1 594 mm x 841 mm or 23.4" x 33.3"
- A0 841 mm x 1189 mm or 33.3" x 46.8"
Further information is available on How to order map copies and on Map sizes, enlargements and reductions.