Rare Old Map of Isle of Man by Samuel Lewis, 1844: Douglas, Ramsey, Peel, Castletown, and Port Erin

Delve into the past with this 1844 masterpiece by Samuel Lewis, an old map of the Isle of Man, a land laden with rich history and natural beauty. This unique piece of history captures the Isle of Man's intricate geography and settlement patterns in a time before the advent of modern cartography, offering a glimpse into the world of the mid-19th century. Notably, some cities as we know them today might not appear on the map, or if they do, they may be under an earlier name, adding to the charm and intrigue of this beautiful artifact.

This meticulously detailed map serves not just as a historical document, but as a work of art. It accurately reflects the Isle of Man's towns, settlements, and parishes as they were in 1844. As such, it's a captivating find for history enthusiasts, cartographers, and lovers of the Isle of Man alike. The thrill of tracing the development of modern settlements from their historical roots is a journey like no other. It's an absolute joy to discover where modern cities stand today, contrasted with the etchings of their origins on this antique map.

  
• Douglas (Founded before 1st Century AD) - Douglas, now the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, was historically a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century.
  
• Ramsey (Founded in 1164) - The second-largest town on the island, Ramsey is known for its working harbour, its beaches, and for the Ramsey Hairpin, a sharp bend on the course of the famous Isle of Man TT Races.
  
• Peel (Founded in 1244) - Peel is home to the island's only cathedral, as well as the ancient Peel Castle, which has served as a fort, a centre of religious activity, and a royal residence over the centuries.
  
• Castletown (Founded before 1090) - The original capital of the Isle of Man, Castletown is a picturesque town famous for its unique architectural treasures like the medieval Castle Rushen, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe.
  
• Port Erin (Founded in 1246) - A seaside village in the south of the island, known for its sheltered harbour, beautiful beach, and the nearby Calf of Man bird sanctuary.
  
• Onchan (Founded in 1200) - An ancient village known for its scenic beauty and its part in the famous TT motorcycle race course.
  
• Laxey (Founded in 1781) - Laxey was the heart of the island's industrial past, known for its once-thriving lead and zinc mining industries, and home to the world's largest working waterwheel, Laxey Wheel.
  
• Ballasalla (Founded in 1236) - Known for the remains of Rushen Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian monastery which was the centre of religious life on the island.
  
• Port St Mary (Founded in 1540) - A village in the southwest, known for its picturesque harbour and as a destination for recreational fishing.
  
• Foxdale (Founded in 1832) - Once a major mining village, it is known for its rich industrial heritage and the surrounding scenic landscapes.

The Isle of Man is famed for its diverse landscape, from rugged coastal cliffs to rolling green hills. Major attractions include the Tynwald Hill, an ancient outdoor assembly place dating back to the Viking era, and the Glen Helen, an area of lush, verdant beauty with dark pools and waterfalls.

Between 1800 and 1850, the Isle of Man saw significant growth and development. This period saw the boom of mining industries, particularly in Laxey and Foxdale. The 1840s also marked the start of major tourism to the Isle, a trend that has only grown in the centuries since.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 8x10in (20.5x25.5cm), 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 30x40in (76x101.5cm) and 37x50in (94x127cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 50in (127cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45.5x61cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my main collection of UK and Ireland maps.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.