Quebec and Montreal, engraved in 1857 by Henry Darwin Rogers and Alexander Keith Johnston and issued by John Murray in London with W. & A.K. Johnston in Edinburgh, is a rare dual portrait of Canada’s principal French-speaking cities at a decisive mid-19th‑century moment. The composition sets each city within a refined oval, anchoring them on the great artery of the St. Lawrence River and revealing how topography and water shaped civic life. Streets, wards, and riverfronts are crisply named, while the pastel tonalities guide the eye from port basins to rising coteaus. As a city map, it is notable for juxtaposing two urban organisms on the same scale of scrutiny, letting viewers compare their distinct forms, ambitions, and constraints just before Confederation transformed their horizons.

On the Quebec plan, the city still clusters tightly around its fortified promontory, where Upper Town and Lower Town meet above the bustling Basin of Quebec. The escarpment’s drama is legible in the ascent of Côte du Palais and the outward roads—Côte de Lévis, Côte de Beaupré, Côte du Sud, and Côte de la Rivière—radiating parish and market life into the surrounding countryside. Along the riverfront, Cours de la Reine signals a planned, ceremonial edge, while Rue St. Louis, Rue St. Anne, Rue du Palais, and Rue du Fort knit the administrative and religious core. Beyond, Île d’Orléans (Isle of Orleans) presides as the agricultural cradle of New France, its placement underscoring how Quebec’s security, commerce, and culture hinged on the St. Lawrence’s tides.

Montreal appears as a compact mercantile city occupying only a fraction of its island, its stone spine aligned to the port and Vieux‑Montréal. The map captures the city’s early industrial waterfront at Rue du Havre and Wellington Street, balanced by civic emergence around Square Victoria. Inland, Boulevard St. Laurent and Rue St. Denis trace the axes of expansion, while Rue de la Montagne and Rue du Fort climb toward the slopes that would host fashionable suburbs. Rural cotes such as Cote St. Michel still lie close at hand, signalling how fields and faubourgs interpenetrated the edge. The St. Lawrence dominates every prospect; to the north, Isle Jesus reminds the viewer that Montreal’s destiny was written in islands, channels, and ferries long before bridges redefined the skyline.

Cultural geography gives the sheet its voice. Predominantly French toponyms—Rue des Écoles, Rue des Marchands, Rue des Sœurs, Rue St. Michel, Rue du Prince—sit beside older English spellings like “Isle Jesus” and “Isle of Orleans,” revealing a bilingual cartography in flux. The map’s careful plotting of thoroughfares such as Rue St. Laurent and Chemin St. Joseph shows how parish roads hardened into urban boulevards, while nodes like Square Victoria and the Quebec basin disclose where commerce, ceremony, and migration converged. By fixing both cities in mid‑growth—Montreal pushing north and west from the port, Quebec constrained to its historic cape—the plan becomes a study in how language, law, and landscape combined to shape two identities along one river.

Henry Darwin Rogers, a pioneering geologist and surveyor, brought scientific rigor to the enterprise; his training in stratigraphy and regional mapping lent the plans a disciplined sense of relief, drainage, and route hierarchy. Alexander Keith Johnston, among the century’s most celebrated Scottish cartographers, supplied the lucid urban engraving and toponymic order that made his National and Physical atlases benchmarks of clarity. Issued under the distinguished imprints of John Murray and W. & A.K. Johnston, this collaboration fuses physical and political vision. As a city map, it excels not merely by listing streets but by situating two capitals of commerce and culture within the St. Lawrence system, capturing the precise moment when canals, roads, and waterfronts began to recast their futures.

Streets and roads on this map

• Avenue des Canadiens
• Boulevard St. Laurent
• Côte d’Ávril
• Côte de Beaupré
• Côte de la Rivière
• Côte de Levis
• Côte du Palais
• Côte du Sud
• Cours de la Reine
• Chemin St. Joseph
• Rue St. Anne
• Rue St. Denis
• Rue St. Laurent
• Rue St. Louis
• Rue St. Michel
• Rue Trudeau
• Rue des Écoles
• Rue des Marchands
• Rue des Sœurs
• Rue de la Montagne
• Rue de l'Université
• Rue d'Iberville
• Rue du Fort
• Rue du Havre
• Rue du Palais
• Rue du Prince
• Square Victoria
• Turnpike Road
• Vieux-Montréal
• Wellington Street

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Basin of Quebec
• Cote St. Michel
• Cote St. Réal
• Ile d'Orléans
• Isle Jesus
• Montreal
• Quebec
• St. Lawrence River

Historical and design context

• Date: 1857
• Historical Context: The map illustrates a period when both cities were expanding but still had distinct and far more limited boundaries compared to today.
• Language: The cities represented are predominantly French-speaking, depicting their unique cultural context in relation to the rest of Canada.
• Themes: Urban development, historical geography, and cultural identity are central themes. The growth of Montreal is notable, as it occupies a smaller portion of its present island, while Quebec is confined to its historic district.
• Geographic Focus: The map shows key areas in the Canadian provinces of Quebec, emphasizing both urbanization (Montreal) and historical significance (Quebec). The St. Lawrence River features prominently.
• Design Style: The map utilizes an oval design for each city, providing a distinctive visual representation. It employs a pastel color palette typical of the period, highlighting features while maintaining clarity.
• Significance: The map serves as a historical document, depicting urban layouts and developmental stages of two major Canadian cities during a crucial phase of growth.

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 18x24in (45x60cm) 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 5-year guarantee.

Read our 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.

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.