We are happy to supply printouts, digital images and photocopies of these maps. All orders must be made in writing (e-mail, letter or fax.) to the address below. To order a map printout or image, please confirm the map details (ie. name, title, shelfmark) and whether you would like colour or greyscale printouts. Maps are usually printed at the same size as their originals (given under 'Pagination'), but enlargements or reductions can be done on request. All Ordnance Survey town plan sheets and County Series 25" to the mile scale sheets, 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).
For general enquiries about printouts, images, and the website, please look at our Frequently Asked Questions. To make an order, please contact us at maps@nls.uk, or write to:
Map Library
National Library of Scotland
33 Salisbury Place
Edinburgh EH9 1SL
Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 623 3970 (direct dial)
+44 (0)131 623 3700 ext. 3970
Fax: +44 (0)131 623 3971
All prices below apply from 1 June 2008.
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') | Prices - image exists | Prices - image does not exist * | |||||
| A4 = 210 mm x 297 mm or 8.3" x 11.7" | £3.20 | £7.50 | |||||
| A3 = 297 mm x 420 mm or 11.7" x 16.5" | £4.30 | £9.00 | |||||
| A2 = 420 mm x 594 mm or 16.5" x 23.4" | £4.80 | £12.00 | |||||
| A1 = 594 mm x 841 mm or 23.4" x 33.3" | £8.00 | £15.50 | |||||
| A0 = 841 mm x 1189 mm or 33.3" x 46.8" | £14.60 | £26.50 | |||||
| * Price includes cost of scanning and printing. |
For all items on our website, the first "Image exists" price is charged. For any other items, we can let you know if it is scanned already, and if so, the cheaper price will apply.
See the Frequently Asked Questions - Printouts for further information.
| Image exists | Image does not exist | ||||
| £7.50 | £15.00 |
Media costs (CD / DVD) are included in these prices.
For all items on our website, the first "Image exists" price is charged. For any other items, we can let you know if it is scanned already, and if so, the cheaper price will apply.
See the Frequently Asked Questions - Images for further information.
We also can supply a range of standard photocopies of these paper maps, subject to conservation restrictions.
More photocopying information and prices.
Value Added Tax, Postage and Packing charges are added to these prices where appropriate.
We currently have no electronic payment facility, but please note that for orders costing less than £30 we do not require money in advance of ordering printouts or photocopies. Please place your order with us at maps@nls.uk, giving your full postal address, and we will send your printouts to you with an invoice.
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 at the end of this page.
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. Colour printouts are twice the price of greyscale printouts.
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.
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. However, it is possible to order smaller sections enlarged to A2 size as printouts; this works well for finely engraved maps, such as the OS six-inch or one-inch maps.
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 (130 grams per square metre weight) paper is also often robust enough to not require further strengthening. However, please note that as our inkjet printer inks are more fugitive (sensitive to light) than other printed inks, best longevity will only be achieved if the map is hung away from bright sunlight.
What paper is used for the printout?
Currently we supply all printouts on white heavyweight coated paper (130 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 republish, sell or supply the printouts on to third parties?
Not without permission off the National Library of Scotland. Our printouts are supplied for private, non-commercial purposes, and permission must be obtained for any further publication, display or resale.
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. For ease of transmission and usage, we usually 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 attached to e-mails?
Due to the size of the images (see above), we generally cannot attach images to e-mails 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 e-mail messages.
How are map images sent out in the post?
All images are mastered to CD-ROM / DVD, and mailed out in a padded Jiffy bag or parcel.
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.
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 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.
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, 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. However, 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.
What is the difference between a greyscale and a black and white image?
Greyscale images are uncoloured, capturing the tones of the original map through a set of 256 shades between black and white. For a black and white map, all pixels are either black or white, creating a cleaner image with a white background, but substantially less clear than a greyscale or colour image when viewing map details. A black and white image is usually one eighth of the size of a greyscale image; therefore a typical A0-sized sheet at 400 dpi is 25 Mb as a black-and-white image, or 200 Mb as a greyscale image.
Will I need any viewing software to look at the images?
Yes. Any image viewing software system that can open a TIFF image will be satisfactory, including Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Paint Shop Pro, Imaging for Windows, or NIH Image. If necessary, images can be supplied in other formats (eg. JPEG, BMP, MrSID) upon request.
Can the images be displayed on Windows and Macintosh computers?
Yes. Our CD-ROMs / DVDs are mastered using the ISO9660 standard, readable on Macintosh and Windows computers, and the non-proprietary cross-platform TIFF images are also usually readable on both systems. However, we know that certain older Macintosh computers may have difficulty reading TIFF images. We are happy to provide further advice on this, but we cannot guarantee the readability of the images on any computer.
Can I publish, sell or supply your images on to third parties?
Not without permission off the National Library of Scotland. Our images are supplied for private, non-commercial purposes, and permission must be obtained for any further publication, display or resale. An electronic permission license must be completed and returned to NLS for any type of publication of our images.
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 Map Library?
Yes. Just let us know if you would prefer this when you order, and we can let you know once the printouts and/or CD-ROM /DVD are ready for collection.
What will the total cost be?
The total cost will include:
The prices of printouts are as follows:
| Standard copy sizes (map sizes are given for each map under 'Pagination') |
Prices - image exists | Prices - image does not exist * | |||||
| A4 = 210 mm x 297 mm or 8.3" x 11.7" | £3.20 | £7.50 | |||||
| A3 = 297 mm x 420 mm or 11.7" x 16.5" | £4.30 | £9.00 | |||||
| A2 = 420 mm x 594 mm or 16.5" x 23.4" | £4.80 | £12.00 | |||||
| A1 = 594 mm x 841 mm or 23.4" x 33.3" | £8.00 | £15.50 | |||||
| A0 = 841 mm x 1189 mm or 33.3" x 46.8" | £14.60 | £26.50 | |||||
| * Price includes cost of scanning and printing. |
As postage and packing costs depend upon the number of maps and their sizes, affecting the weight of the parcel, it is difficult to give a precise quotation in advance. However, in general for maps sent out in cardboard tubes, postage and packing usually cost up to £2 for UK addresses (1st class) or £3-5 for non-UK addresses (air mail).
How can I pay for the printouts/images?
Usually, a yellow invoice for the total cost of the order is enclosed with the printouts/images. You then have 30 days to pay for the order, either by cheque, credit card, VISA, postal order, or cash (if in person in the Map Library). Although the invoice will be in pounds sterling, we are happy to receive payment in other currencies using the current exchange rate. For large orders of over £20, a deposit may be required - we will let you know this, if this is necessary before we can proceed with your order.
Is it possible to provide links to map pages on the NLS website?
Yes. We request that you ask our permission before doing this, giving details of your own website and the link(s) you intend to make.
Why is it impossible to zoom in on any of the map thumbnail images?
The most likely cause of this problem is that your local institutional/organisational website or network administrator has disabled Internet port 8080. The pop-up window that allows the map images to be zoomed is accessible only through port 8080. Some network administrators disable all ports other than the standard Internet port 80. Port 8080 must be enabled for our images to be zoomed.
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 e-mail maps@nls.uk with your suggestion. Please note that only a selection of our map collections have been scanned so far, primarily through external funding, 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"