FAQ

Is this a physical print?

No. You buy the files and print them yourself — at home, at a local print shop or at an online lab. Nothing is shipped. That is why a museum-quality map costs from $14.90 here instead of the hundreds an original sheet costs.

Is there a discount for several maps?

Yes, the cart applies it automatically: any 3 maps cost $29 and any 10 maps cost $59. For 4 to 9 maps the discount is 35%, for 11 or more it is 60%. Maps priced at $19.90 count the same as the others.

How large can I print it?

Every map states two sizes at 300 dpi: the map, measured inside the engraved border, and the full sheet with its margins, which is a few centimetres larger. A map that prints to 89 cm comes on a sheet that prints to 92 cm. Nothing is upscaled to fake a bigger number, and printing smaller than the stated size only makes the detail denser.

What files do I get?

Six JPEG files at 300 dpi, sRGB with an embedded profile: the full sheet, the map trimmed to the plate rule, and four standard ratios — 3:2, 4:3, 5:4 and ISO A. The ratios are made by extending the margin with paper from the same sheet, so the map is never stretched or cropped to fit. A restoration passport (PDF) comes with them.

What software do I need?

None. The files open anywhere and can go straight to a print shop. If you want to crop or resize them yourself, any image editor will do.

What paper should I print on?

A matte or lightly textured cotton rag gives the antique look; a smooth matte photo paper keeps the engraving crisp. We would avoid glossy paper — it fights the paper texture we deliberately kept.

Can I use a map commercially?

Personal printing is included: print for yourself, your home or your office, as many copies as you like. For client work, packaging or printed goods you sell, add the commercial licence (+$49) — no print-run limit. Reselling the file itself is not allowed under either licence.

Are these maps in the public domain?

Yes. We restore public-domain originals from named library collections and state the holder, the shelfmark and the rights on every map. Our own contribution is the restoration, which is what the licence covers.

Why pay for a map I could download from a library?

Because a library scan is made to record a sheet, not to print it. It carries the yellowing, the stains, the fold, the scanner’s edges and often a stamp on the margin, in one awkward proportion. We rebuild the paper tone, lift the damage, keep the engraving untouched, and hand you six framed-ready proportions with the measurements to prove it. Compare them yourself on the front page.

How do I get the files?

The download link appears as soon as payment clears and is also sent by e-mail. It allows five downloads, so you can fetch the files on another machine. Keep a copy — they are yours.

Can I get a refund?

Digital goods cannot be returned once downloaded, but a broken, wrong or misdescribed file is our problem: write to us and we fix it or refund it. We answer within 24 hours.

How often do new maps appear?

Five to ten restored sheets in a normal week. World maps are open now; nautical charts, celestial and star maps, city plans and bird’s-eye views are in the queue. Write to hello@oldmapstudio.com for a short note when a section opens.

Can you find a particular map for me?

Often, yes — tell us what you are looking for and we will say whether a public-domain copy exists and whether it is good enough to restore. Use the Ask about this map form or write to hello@oldmapstudio.com.

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