Map Collections

With around two million cartographic items, our map collection is the largest in Scotland and one of the largest in the world. Our holdings cover all parts of the globe, and range from early atlases and manuscript maps to current digital mapping.

The National Library of Scotland map collection includes:

• Over 1.5 million sheet maps
• 15,000 atlases
• 100,000 maps on microfilm
• Growing volumes of digital mapping
• Gazetteers, cartographic reference books and periodicals
• Map ephemera.

If you have a map-related enquiry, we will be happy to help you: either visit the Maps Reading Room or ask a question online.

Modern Digital Maps

From 1998 to the present, we have received annual snapshots of detailed Ordnance Survey digital maps. From 2017, these have been enhanced by the receipt of other Modern Digital Maps through Non-Print Legal Deposit.

Selected named online map collections

• Assynt - John Home's Survey of Assynt (1774)
• Caerlaverock - Plans of the Barony of Caerlaverock (1775-76)
• Dalswinton - A volume of maps of the several farms of the estate of Dalswinton (1768)
• Drumlanrig - Plans of the Barony of Drumlanrig (1772)
• Dunskey (Portpatrick) - Plans Dunskey Estate (1804)
• Earlstoun - Earlstoun estate plans (1769-1830)
• Earlstoun - Plans of the Property of William Forbes Esq. of Callendar (1800-1817)
• Lockharts of Lee Estate maps (1770s-1950s)
• Lovat Highland Estates maps (1750s-1960s)
• George Brown's Lordship of Lovat Estate Plans (1798-1800)
• Maxwell of Monreith Estate maps (1777-78)
• Queensberry Estate plans (1854)
• Saltoun Estate maps (1750s-1870s)
• Sanquhar - plans of the south side of Barony of Sanquhar (1766)
• Earl of Selkirk - Collection of Surveys of Scottish Estates of the Earl of Selkirk (ca. 1808-1815)
• Signet Library maps
• Stevenson civil engineering plans, 1660s-1940s
• Sutherland Estate maps (1770s-1920s)