Ed’s Map Collection:
Ordnance Survey 1-inch New Popular Edition [Ellis Martin Covers]
Page last updated: 14 November 2009
Before the outbreak of the Second World War, work was begun on a new map series for Great Britain - the 1-inch New Popular Edition. Ellis Martin, one of the resident cover artists at Ordnance Survey, was given the task of designing a cover for the series. The design chosen was markedly different to previous Ellis Martin designs, being less ornate and intricate. The first 11 sheets of the series were prepared and printed in 1940-41, although publication of the series was blocked by the War Office. The sheets were stored - along with their covers - until August 1945, when Ordnance Survey published some copies of the original 11 sheets in their original covers. From mid-1945 onwards, newly-prepared sheets (and re-issues of extra sheets from the original 11 print runs) bore re-lettered covers.
The aim of this collection theme is to acquire a copy of every different 1-inch New Popular Edition sheet issued in an Ellis Martin cover, as published in 1945.

Category Status

New Popular sheets known to have had Ellis Martin covers 
11
New Popular Ellis Martin cover sheets in collection 
8

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

Blue shaded maps are also part of the ‘Cirencester area’ collection.

Ordnance Survey 1-inch New Popular Edition [Ellis Martin Covers] (1940, pub. 1945)

Print
Pub.
Map
Fmt
Condition
Notes
Sheet 157 - Swindon
11040 1945.08 Map image CFS Good Cover very slightly worn at edges and with price sticker. Map in good condition, with some minor wearing on creases.
Sheet 158 - Oxford and Newbury
8840 1945.08 Map image CFS Good Cover slightly worn and scuffed at edges. Map in good condition, with minor paper splits at some fold intersections.
Sheet 161 - London N.E.
11040 1945.08 Map image PFS Reasonable Cover creased and torn at edges, has darkened appearance. Map in reasonable condition, with small splits at fold intersections and general wear.
Sheet 167 - Salisbury
11040 1945.08 Map image CFS Good Cover slightly worn at edges. Map in good condition with minor wear to folds.
Map image PFS Reasonable Cover knocked and creased at edges, 1½-inch split to spine. Map has average wear to folds, with one or two splits at fold intersections.
Sheet 169 - Aldershot
- 1945.08 Map image CFS Good Cover slightly worn at edges, inscribed ‘20 Oct 45’. Map in fairly good shape, worn through to cloth on fold intersections.
Sheet 171 - London S.E.
- 1945.08 Coming soon... CFS Good
Sheet 172 - Chatham and Maidstone
- 1945.08 Coming soon... CFS Reasonable
Sheet 179 - Bournemouth
11041 1945.08 Map image CFS Poor Cover very worn and chipped at edges, rear half of cover missing. Map worn through to cloth at fold intersections, one 3-inch tear along fold.
Sheet 182 - Brighton and Worthing
11040 1945.08 Map image CFS Reasonable Cover chipped and worn at edges, spine held together with clear tape, rear portion unattached to map. Map in reasonable condition with some wear to folds and a few small paper splits at some fold intersections.
Sheet 183 - Eastbourne
- 1945.08 Coming soon... CFS Poor
Sheet 184 - Hastings
11041 1945.08 Map image CFS Reasonable Cover chipped at edges, slightly darkened and with one 2-inch tear on spine. Map in reasonable condition, with average wear to folds and some minor foxing.