Rare Old Map of Pawleys Island, South Carolina by USGS, 1942: Long Bay & Atlantic Coast
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1962 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in Canada
Restored from the original 1962 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Titled “Magnolia Beach,” this US Geological Survey topographic map was originally dated 1942 and issued with a 1962 publication imprint, preserving a...
Continue readingTitled “Magnolia Beach,” this US Geological Survey topographic map was originally dated 1942 and issued with a 1962 publication imprint, preserving a precise mid-century portrait of the South Carolina coast around Pawleys Island. Drawn at the detailed 1:24,000 scale, it captures a landscape where land and water interlace: sandy barrier beaches, tidal creeks, low coastal flats, marsh edges, and the open sweep of the Atlantic Ocean. The map’s quiet technical beauty lies in its measured depiction of a place defined by subtle elevations rather than dramatic relief. Here, the cartography records not only roads and settlements, but also the delicate environmental gradients that shaped daily life along Long Bay.
The US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity for which its topographic sheets are renowned. Founded in the late nineteenth century, the USGS became one of America’s most important scientific mapping institutions, producing maps that supported engineering, resource management, military planning, conservation, and civic development. In “Magnolia Beach,” that institutional precision is evident in the conventional but elegant vocabulary of contour lines, hydrographic markings, road classifications, and land-cover tinting. The result is a map that feels both utilitarian and deeply evocative. Its fine-grained detail reflects an era when field surveys and careful compilation transformed local geography into a national archive of measurable landscapes.
Pawleys Island occupies the heart of the map’s coastal story. Long known for its relaxed character, historic residences, and association with the South Carolina Lowcountry’s beach culture, Pawleys appears here in a less developed moment than the one familiar today. Roads and trails trace modest connections across the island and mainland, while nearby marshlands reveal the ecological complexity of the coast. The Atlantic Ocean and Long Bay frame the scene, emphasizing the island’s exposed yet sheltered position along a dynamic shoreline. The map invites comparison with the present, showing how settlement, access, vegetation, and coastal infrastructure have evolved across decades of storms, development, and environmental change.
The topographic character of the region is especially compelling because it is so understated. Unlike mountainous inland quadrangles, this coastal sheet records minute shifts in elevation across flat terrain, where a few feet can determine the boundary between dry ground, wetland, dune, and tidal marsh. Contours, water symbols, and color distinctions work together to describe a landscape shaped by sand movement, salt water, drainage, and vegetation. The map’s marshes and neighboring islands are not decorative details; they are central to understanding the Lowcountry environment. In this cartographic language, creeks, beaches, and wetlands become a finely organized system of natural forms along the Carolina shore.
As a historical document, “Magnolia Beach” offers a valuable benchmark for the study of coastal change. Its 1942 geography, preserved through the later 1962 imprint, predates much of the modern transformation associated with postwar tourism, road expansion, real estate development, and environmental management. For collectors, it carries the appeal of a government map made with scientific rigor yet rich in local atmosphere. For historians and coastal observers, it records Pawleys Island and its surroundings at a pivotal point between older patterns of settlement and the accelerating changes of the later twentieth century. The map’s enduring fascination lies in this union of precision, place, and historical memory.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Pawleys Island
- Atlantic Ocean
- Long Bay
- Various coastal marshlands
- Neighboring islands and geographical features around Pawleys Island
- Roads and trails connecting different areas
Historical context & cartographic details
- Map name: Magnolia Beach
- Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map
- Dated 1942, with a 1962 publication imprint
- Uses a traditional topographic style, including contour lines to show elevation changes
- Features color schemes representing different land uses
- Shows flat coastal lands, sandy beaches, and marshland typical of South Carolina’s coastline
- Reflects mid-20th century coastal geography and land use
- Serves as a historical benchmark for changes in coastal development, vegetation, and environments over time
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Titled “Magnolia Beach,” this US Geological Survey topographic map was originally dated 1942 and issued with a 1962 publication imprint, preserving a precise mid-century portrait of the South Carolina coast around Pawleys Island. Drawn at the detailed 1:24,000 scale, it captures a landscape where land and water interlace: sandy barrier beaches, tidal creeks, low coastal flats, marsh edges, and the open sweep of the Atlantic Ocean. The map’s quiet technical beauty lies in its measured depiction of a place defined by subtle elevations rather than dramatic relief. Here, the cartography records not only roads and settlements, but also the delicate environmental gradients that shaped daily life along Long Bay.
The US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity for which its topographic sheets are renowned. Founded in the late nineteenth century, the USGS became one of America’s most important scientific mapping institutions, producing maps that supported engineering, resource management, military planning, conservation, and civic development. In “Magnolia Beach,” that institutional precision is evident in the conventional but elegant vocabulary of contour lines, hydrographic markings, road classifications, and land-cover tinting. The result is a map that feels both utilitarian and deeply evocative. Its fine-grained detail reflects an era when field surveys and careful compilation transformed local geography into a national archive of measurable landscapes.
Pawleys Island occupies the heart of the map’s coastal story. Long known for its relaxed character, historic residences, and association with the South Carolina Lowcountry’s beach culture, Pawleys appears here in a less developed moment than the one familiar today. Roads and trails trace modest connections across the island and mainland, while nearby marshlands reveal the ecological complexity of the coast. The Atlantic Ocean and Long Bay frame the scene, emphasizing the island’s exposed yet sheltered position along a dynamic shoreline. The map invites comparison with the present, showing how settlement, access, vegetation, and coastal infrastructure have evolved across decades of storms, development, and environmental change.
The topographic character of the region is especially compelling because it is so understated. Unlike mountainous inland quadrangles, this coastal sheet records minute shifts in elevation across flat terrain, where a few feet can determine the boundary between dry ground, wetland, dune, and tidal marsh. Contours, water symbols, and color distinctions work together to describe a landscape shaped by sand movement, salt water, drainage, and vegetation. The map’s marshes and neighboring islands are not decorative details; they are central to understanding the Lowcountry environment. In this cartographic language, creeks, beaches, and wetlands become a finely organized system of natural forms along the Carolina shore.
As a historical document, “Magnolia Beach” offers a valuable benchmark for the study of coastal change. Its 1942 geography, preserved through the later 1962 imprint, predates much of the modern transformation associated with postwar tourism, road expansion, real estate development, and environmental management. For collectors, it carries the appeal of a government map made with scientific rigor yet rich in local atmosphere. For historians and coastal observers, it records Pawleys Island and its surroundings at a pivotal point between older patterns of settlement and the accelerating changes of the later twentieth century. The map’s enduring fascination lies in this union of precision, place, and historical memory.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Pawleys Island
- Atlantic Ocean
- Long Bay
- Various coastal marshlands
- Neighboring islands and geographical features around Pawleys Island
- Roads and trails connecting different areas
Historical context & cartographic details
- Map name: Magnolia Beach
- Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map
- Dated 1942, with a 1962 publication imprint
- Uses a traditional topographic style, including contour lines to show elevation changes
- Features color schemes representing different land uses
- Shows flat coastal lands, sandy beaches, and marshland typical of South Carolina’s coastline
- Reflects mid-20th century coastal geography and land use
- Serves as a historical benchmark for changes in coastal development, vegetation, and environments over time
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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