A sweeping portrait of the great river corridor, The Euphrates Valley, Syria, Kurdistan &c. traces the entwined courses of the Euphrates and Tigris from their Anatolian headwaters toward Mesopotamia’s storied plains. With refined full-color lithography and crisp hachures, the map captures the relief of the Taurus and the rugged highlands of Kurdistan as they taper into the steppe and desert. Cities of enduring renown—Aleppo and Damascus in the west, Baghdad and Mosul to the east, with Kirkuk, Arbil (Erbil), Diyarbakir, and Mardin—anchor a landscape where ancient trade routes evolved into modern corridors. The cartography balances physical form with political structure, delineating administrative divisions as they stood in the late Ottoman era, and presenting a meticulously layered view of a region poised between antiquity and modernity.

Beyond its aesthetic finesse, the map documents a transformative infrastructural moment. Railroads are plotted where they existed and implied where they were projected, registering the early contours of the Anatolian and Baghdad Railway schemes threading through Kilikia (Cilicia), Aleppo, and toward the Mesopotamian interior. From the Levantine coast at Latakia and Tripoli to the heartland around Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, roads are traced with a clarity that ties caravan heritage to planned steel. Submarine cable routes sketched along the eastern Mediterranean and onward toward the Gulf signal a new era of instantaneous communication, echoing the reach of the Eastern telegraph networks and the geopolitical calculations that accompanied them.

The map’s settlement pattern reads like a historical ledger. Aleppo’s mercantile orbit, Damascus’s role as a spiritual and commercial hub, Mosul’s gateway to the Upper Tigris, and Baghdad’s revival as a modern administrative center are all placed in relation to secondary towns—Homs, Manbij, Hasakah, Qamishli—whose positions along rivers and roads illuminate the logic of regional exchange. Political boundaries and city limits show the late Ottoman vilayet framework in practice, clarifying how authority and administration were meant to function across a tapestry of Arab, Kurdish, Armenian, and Assyrian communities. The effect is to fix, in a single view, the delicate balance of local autonomy, imperial oversight, and emerging national aspirations.

Topographically, Stanford’s hachures do more than shade hills; they narrate movement and constraint. The map renders the Taurus and Anti-Taurus as formidable walls, funnels traffic through passes into the Cilician plain, and spreads the Jazira plateau between the Euphrates and Tigris like a broad stage for seasonal migrations and grain caravans. Desert tracts are named and bounded, emphasizing the thresholds between settled riverine belts and arid expanses. River meanders at Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, the channels and islands of the lower Euphrates, and the approach toward the Tigris near Mosul and Kirkuk are shown with hydrographic precision that recalls the region’s ancient irrigation cultures and the enduring strategic value of water.

Historically, the sheet stands at the confluence of cartographic lineage and political change. Issued in 1904, and grounded in sections first published in 1887, it reflects Edward Stanford’s stewardship of John Arrowsmith’s celebrated atlas tradition—updating the 1858 London Atlas framework with late Victorian and early Edwardian intelligence. As a pre–First World War document, it captures the Ottoman provinces before their dissolution, the early imprint of telegraphy and rail on imperial governance, and the geographic understanding that informed diplomacy, archaeology, and commerce. It is a time capsule of modernity arriving along ancient paths, preserving a landscape whose contours would soon be redrawn by conflict and mandate.

Places on this map

• Euphrates River
• Tigris River
• Aleppo
• Damascus
• Baghdad
• Mosul
• Kirkuk
• Arbil
• Kilikia (Cilicia)
• Homs
• Raqqa
• Diyarbakir
• Mardin
• Hasakah
• Latakia
• Tripoli (Lebanon)
• Manbij
• Deir ez-Zor
• Qamishli

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Settlement locations (towns and villages)
• Major roads and highways
• Railroads connecting key areas
• Submarine cable routes
• Rivers and bodies of water
• Mountain ranges depicted with hachures
• Desert regions labeled
• City boundaries and administrative divisions
• Landmarks and notable geographic features (e.g. major hills, plateaus)
• Political boundaries of the time

Historical and design context

• Mapmaker: Edward Stanford, a significant figure in cartography who acquired and enhanced John Arrowsmith's legacy after his passing.
• Creation Date: 1904, with parts of the map originally issued in 1887 and updated editions released through the early 1900s.
• Publishing Context: This map was part of an atlas that followed John Arrowsmith's London Atlas of 1858. Stanford revised the original works to reflect advancements in geographic knowledge.
• Cartographic Techniques: The map employs hachures to represent relief, adding depth to the topographical depiction of the Euphrates Valley and surrounding regions.
• Design Style: The map is presented in full-color lithography, known for its vivid representation of geographical features, enhancing the cartographic artistry of the late 19th century.
• Historical Significance: This map serves as a vital historical document, encapsulating the political and geographical understanding of the region during the early 20th century.

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 every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

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 24x36in (60x90cm) 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 collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

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.

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.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

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 and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

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

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) 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).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

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, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

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 and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

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

Alcune delle mie vecchie mappe sono ora disponibili come tele incorniciate. Per favore contattami se desideri ordinare una dimensione che non è disponibile nel mio negozio.

Le vecchie mappe su tela sono un'alternativa interessante alle mappe incorniciate in modo convenzionale. A seconda del tuo gusto personale e dell'arredamento della stanza, le mappe su tela possono "risaltare" un po' di più rispetto a una mappa incorniciata.

Scopri di più sulle mie mappe su tela incorniciate.

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.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.