The Map of Ireland, divided into provinces & counties, published in 1846 as part of Lewis’s Atlas of Ireland, is a masterclass in lucid design and empirical ambition. Samuel Lewis’s vision is realized through R. Creighton’s precise draughtsmanship and I. Dower’s clean, confident engraving, rendering the island with disciplined clarity. Subtle outline coloring distinguishes Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connacht, while hachures lend a sculptural dimension to uplands and ranges. A carefully composed legend deciphers symbols for principal roads, mail routes, emerging railways, rivers, lakes, and canals, guiding the eye from coastline to interior. The result is both elegant and exacting: a national portrait that balances administrative order with the living geography of towns, waters, and relief.

Samuel Lewis, noted for his topographical dictionaries and atlases of Britain and Ireland, cultivated a house style that fused dependable information with refined aesthetics. In this map, his editorial ethos is unmistakable: boundary lines are crisp, counties are neatly articulated, and the hierarchy of settlements—from cities to post towns and villages—reads at a glance. Creighton’s linework ensures proportional harmony and legibility, while Dower’s burin captures coastal intricacy and riverine meanders without sacrificing clarity. Published by S. Lewis & Co. in London, the sheet reflects a metropolitan confidence in publicly useful knowledge, offering an authoritative framework for travel, administration, and study across the island.

Geography here is rendered as narrative terrain. Hachures model the weight of the Wicklow Mountains and the rugged forms of the southwest, while soft gradations cue the gentler expanses of the midlands. The map’s hydrology is an organizing presence: the Shannon unfurls like a spine through Connacht and Munster; Lough Neagh broadens the north; Lough Corrib and other western waters nestle against stony coasts. Estuaries and bays articulate the shoreline, from the inlets of Cork and Kerry to the shallows near Dublin and Louth, and the surrounding seas—across the North Channel and St George’s Channel—situate Ireland within its maritime world. Every feature is composed to show how landform and waterway govern movement and settlement.

Cities and towns appear as a lattice of commerce, culture, and communication. Dublin anchors the east, its role underscored by converging mail routes and principal roads that tie it to Cork and Limerick in the south and west, to Galway across the midlands, and to the ports of Waterford and Wexford along the southeast. The map’s notation of post towns and villages, along with strategic centers like Drogheda, Sligo, Kilkenny, and Tralee, reveals a hierarchy of service and exchange. Early railways, plainly marked, begin to radiate from key hubs, signaling a new tempo of travel—iron lines threading traditional roadways and canals, and foreshadowing the transformative networks that would soon reshape Irish mobility.

Created at a moment of profound transition, this 1846 depiction preserves Ireland’s pre-Partition administrative landscape at the cusp of modernity. Its attention to infrastructure—mail roads, nascent rail lines, waterborne channels—captures the practical systems through which people, goods, and ideas moved, even as the period’s social and economic pressures gathered. As part of Lewis’s Atlas of Ireland, the map is both an instrument and an archive: a document of counties and provinces that still resonate, and of historical pathways that reveal how the island was organized, governed, and traversed. It connects art with utility, offering a lucid, dignified record of Ireland’s shape, places, and pulse.

Cities and towns on this map

• Dublin
• Cork
• Limerick
• Galway
• Waterford
• Drogheda
• Sligo
• Kilkenny
• Wexford
• Tralee

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Administrative Boundaries: Clearly marked divisions between provinces and counties.
• Travel Routes: Lines indicating principal roads and mail routes.
• Railroads: Depictions of rail lines in development during the mid-19th century.
• Water Bodies: Rivers, lakes, and canals are illustrated, enhancing navigational understanding.
• Hachures: Used to represent terrain elevation and relief.
• Insets/Legend: An explanation of symbols used on the map is provided, showing the cartographic conventions of the time.

Historical and design context

• Map Title: Map of Ireland, divided into provinces & counties
• Creation Year: 1846
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by Samuel Lewis, drawn by R. Creighton, and engraved by I. Dower. Published by S. Lewis and Co., London.
• Map Design & Style: This is a hand-colored, outline-folded map showcasing intricate detailing and craftsmanship typical of mid-19th-century cartography. Relief is represented using hachures, lending a three-dimensional quality to the terrain.
• Historical Significance: The map is part of 'Lewis's Atlas of Ireland' and serves as a valuable historical artifact reflecting the travel infrastructure and administrative divisions of Ireland in the mid-19th century.
• Regions and Counties Shown: The map encompasses all of Ireland, divided into various provinces and counties, including Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connacht.
• Context about the Mapmaker: Samuel Lewis was noted for his contributions to cartography and local history in Britain. He founded a firm that produced detailed atlases and topographical dictionaries, leaving a significant legacy in the field.

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 70in (180cm). 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.

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.

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.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

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.

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 order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints 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.