Ed’s Map Collection:
Ordnance Survey Half-inch Map of Great Britain
Page last updated: 18 May 2008
After the Second World War Ordnance Survey began to publish maps based on the new National Grid, moving away from previous outdated mapping projections. As part of this, it was decided to cease publication of native half-inch scale maps (a market largely dominated by rival publisher Bartholomew’s). After a few years, however, Ordnance Survey looked again at the half-inch scale and decided to have another go. In 1956 sheet 51 of the new series was the first to be published, covering most of Kent and part of East Sussex, and the only sheet in the series issued in a ‘Provisional’ edition. Publication continued as ‘Second Series’ from 1958. The seemingly jinxed series was abandoned in 1962, just prior to publication of the Greater London sheet, which on published editions never carried its sheet number.
The aim of this collection theme is to acquire a copy of each edition published in the Half-inch Map of Great Britain series from 1956-c.1962.

Category Status

Half-inch GB editions known to have been published 
6
Half-inch GB editions in collection 
6

You can click on the image of a map to view its details.

Ordnance Survey Half-inch Map of Great Britain (1956-c.1962)

Ed.
Pub.
Map
Fmt
Condition
Notes
Sheet 28 - Snowdon
A 1961 Map image CFS Reasonable Cover darkened and badly chipped on left and bottom edges. Map in good condition, with some fold intersections worn through to the cloth backing.
Map image PFS Good Cover very slightly knocked at edges. Map in good condition with some very minor wear to folds.
Map image PFS Good Cover slightly knocked and creased at edges. Map in good condition with some minor scuffing to folds.
... ...
Sheet 36 - Birmingham
A 1958 Map image PFS Good Cover slightly worn and creased at edges. Map in good condition with very minimal wear.
A/ c.1960 Map image PFS Good Cover has slight surface damage and some edge creasing. Map in good condition with very minimal wear.
... ...
Sheet 39 - Norwich
A 1961 Map image PFS Good Cover slightly creased and rubbed at edges, some minor staining. Map in good condition with minimal wear, but some pencil & crayon markings around Tacolneston.
... ...
[Sheet 43] - Greater London
A 1962 Map image CFS Good Cover slightly creased, ripped and rubbed at edges. Map in good condition with minimal wear but some very slight ‘rippling’.
... ...
Sheet 51 - Canterbury
A 1956 Map image PFS Good Cover slightly worn at edges. Map in good condition, with minor wear to folds and some very minor ink annotation to map face.
... ...