Rare Old Pictorial Map of Oslo, 1955: Royal Palace, Akershus Fort, City Hall, Vigeland, Holmenkollen
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1955 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored from the original 1955 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Titled simply Oslo, this 1955 pictorial map captures the Norwegian capital at a buoyant moment of post‑war renewal and cultural pride. Commissioned...
Continue readingTitled simply Oslo, this 1955 pictorial map captures the Norwegian capital at a buoyant moment of post‑war renewal and cultural pride. Commissioned by Fellesbanken and crafted for English‑speaking visitors, it blends cartographic clarity with exuberant illustration—mountains and fjord rendered in vibrant mid‑century color, landmarks spotlighted with affectionate detail. Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s, renowned for thematic maps, turns the city into a living panorama, where civic icons, waterfront bustle, and wooded heights converse across the sheet. The result is not only a guide to streets and sights, but a portrait of Oslo’s personality: maritime yet modern, intimate yet expansive, and poised between royal avenues, working quays, and the evergreen drama of the surrounding hills and forests.
At the city’s heart, the ceremonial axis of Karl Johans gate unfurls from the Royal Palace to the Central Station, a grand promenade punctuated by the National Theatre, the Storting, and Oslo Cathedral. Around it, a fine mesh of streets—Akersgata, Storgata, Torggata, Brugata, and Dronningens gate—anchors the commercial core and the Renaissance grid of Kvadraturen. Reenskaug’s harbor is alive with ferries and freighters, a nod to the city’s lifeblood; Akershus Fortress surveys the quays, while City Hall’s twin towers—new symbols of civic confidence—rise over Rådhusplassen. The map’s pictorial boats, banners, and bustling piers evoke the Oslo Fjord as stage and thoroughfare, making this an especially compelling city map for orienting newcomers at a glance.
Beyond the downtown grid, the map celebrates neighborhoods and green spaces that define Oslo’s character. Parkveien skirts embassy gardens toward Majorstuen, while Ullevålsveien and Kirkeveien trace arcs around St. Hanshaugen and Frogner, leading the eye to Vigeland’s famed sculpture park. Bislett is flagged for its storied stadium, and Grünerløkka’s industrial past is hinted along the Akerselva, with Trondheimsveien radiating eastward. In Gamlebyen, Oslo gate signals medieval roots, ruins, and ramparts; Åkerbergveien points toward Tøyen’s gardens, and the city’s artistic soul is echoed in Edvard Munchs gate. Even lesser‑known lanes—Munkerudveien and Valderhauggata—appear as quiet threads tying hilltop suburbs to the inner city, proof of a map attentive to texture as well as headline sights.
Nature and culture share the foreground in Reenskaug’s scheme. The Oslo Fjord gleams with illustrated waterways and boats weaving to island specks and the museum‑rich Bygdøy peninsula, while the dark greens of Nordmarka sweep down from the north. Holmenkollen’s ski jump stands like a beacon on the skyline; Ekeberg’s ridge offers a scenic overlook; and pockets of forest, meadows, and shoreline are enlivened by local flora and fauna. The ring of thoroughfares—Ringveien, Kirkeveien—binds hill, harbor, and neighborhood; Sukkerbiten and the working quays attest to a maritime economy in full stride. It is a city map that breathes: one where waterways guide the visitor as surely as streets do, and where topography is part of the urban story.
Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s specialized in transforming geography into narrative, and this commission demonstrates why. Designed for travelers, the map pairs lucid orientation with charming pictorial cues—cultural icons, historic buildings, and scenic vignettes—so an English‑speaking visitor can decode Oslo’s essence instantly. As a mid‑century promotional work for Fellesbanken, it reflects the optimism of 1950s tourism: accessible, welcoming, and proud of both heritage and modernity. Its companion street plan on the reverse underscores its practical intelligence. Above all, it stands as a notably successful city map because it marries wayfinding to wonder, distilling royal avenues, working harbors, and forested heights into a single, memorable image of place.
Streets and roads on this map
- Akersgata
- Bislett
- Brugata
- Dronningens gate
- Edvard Munchs gate
- Karl Johans gate
- Kirkeveien
- Munkerudveien
- Oslo gate
- Parkveien
- Ringveien
- Storgata
- Sukkerbiten
- Torggata
- Trondheimsveien
- Ullevålsveien
- Valderhauggata
- Åkerbergveien
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Illustrations of historical landmarks
- Iconic buildings and monuments
- Representations of local flora and fauna
- Illustrations of waterways and boats
- Sites of natural beauty such as hills or forests
- Cultural icons related to Oslo
Historical and design context
- Year created: 1955
- Created for Fellesbanken; aimed at English-speaking visitors; includes a street map of the city on the reverse side
- Mapmaker/Publisher: Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s, who specialized in thematic maps with artistic elements
- Thematic, pictorial approach showcasing places of interest via illustrations of nature, landmarks, and cultural elements
- Vibrant colors and artistic illustrations typical of mid-20th-century pictorial maps
- Promotional piece reflecting 1950s tourism trends, post-war optimism, and cultural pride
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). 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.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
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.
Titled simply Oslo, this 1955 pictorial map captures the Norwegian capital at a buoyant moment of post‑war renewal and cultural pride. Commissioned by Fellesbanken and crafted for English‑speaking visitors, it blends cartographic clarity with exuberant illustration—mountains and fjord rendered in vibrant mid‑century color, landmarks spotlighted with affectionate detail. Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s, renowned for thematic maps, turns the city into a living panorama, where civic icons, waterfront bustle, and wooded heights converse across the sheet. The result is not only a guide to streets and sights, but a portrait of Oslo’s personality: maritime yet modern, intimate yet expansive, and poised between royal avenues, working quays, and the evergreen drama of the surrounding hills and forests.
At the city’s heart, the ceremonial axis of Karl Johans gate unfurls from the Royal Palace to the Central Station, a grand promenade punctuated by the National Theatre, the Storting, and Oslo Cathedral. Around it, a fine mesh of streets—Akersgata, Storgata, Torggata, Brugata, and Dronningens gate—anchors the commercial core and the Renaissance grid of Kvadraturen. Reenskaug’s harbor is alive with ferries and freighters, a nod to the city’s lifeblood; Akershus Fortress surveys the quays, while City Hall’s twin towers—new symbols of civic confidence—rise over Rådhusplassen. The map’s pictorial boats, banners, and bustling piers evoke the Oslo Fjord as stage and thoroughfare, making this an especially compelling city map for orienting newcomers at a glance.
Beyond the downtown grid, the map celebrates neighborhoods and green spaces that define Oslo’s character. Parkveien skirts embassy gardens toward Majorstuen, while Ullevålsveien and Kirkeveien trace arcs around St. Hanshaugen and Frogner, leading the eye to Vigeland’s famed sculpture park. Bislett is flagged for its storied stadium, and Grünerløkka’s industrial past is hinted along the Akerselva, with Trondheimsveien radiating eastward. In Gamlebyen, Oslo gate signals medieval roots, ruins, and ramparts; Åkerbergveien points toward Tøyen’s gardens, and the city’s artistic soul is echoed in Edvard Munchs gate. Even lesser‑known lanes—Munkerudveien and Valderhauggata—appear as quiet threads tying hilltop suburbs to the inner city, proof of a map attentive to texture as well as headline sights.
Nature and culture share the foreground in Reenskaug’s scheme. The Oslo Fjord gleams with illustrated waterways and boats weaving to island specks and the museum‑rich Bygdøy peninsula, while the dark greens of Nordmarka sweep down from the north. Holmenkollen’s ski jump stands like a beacon on the skyline; Ekeberg’s ridge offers a scenic overlook; and pockets of forest, meadows, and shoreline are enlivened by local flora and fauna. The ring of thoroughfares—Ringveien, Kirkeveien—binds hill, harbor, and neighborhood; Sukkerbiten and the working quays attest to a maritime economy in full stride. It is a city map that breathes: one where waterways guide the visitor as surely as streets do, and where topography is part of the urban story.
Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s specialized in transforming geography into narrative, and this commission demonstrates why. Designed for travelers, the map pairs lucid orientation with charming pictorial cues—cultural icons, historic buildings, and scenic vignettes—so an English‑speaking visitor can decode Oslo’s essence instantly. As a mid‑century promotional work for Fellesbanken, it reflects the optimism of 1950s tourism: accessible, welcoming, and proud of both heritage and modernity. Its companion street plan on the reverse underscores its practical intelligence. Above all, it stands as a notably successful city map because it marries wayfinding to wonder, distilling royal avenues, working harbors, and forested heights into a single, memorable image of place.
Streets and roads on this map
- Akersgata
- Bislett
- Brugata
- Dronningens gate
- Edvard Munchs gate
- Karl Johans gate
- Kirkeveien
- Munkerudveien
- Oslo gate
- Parkveien
- Ringveien
- Storgata
- Sukkerbiten
- Torggata
- Trondheimsveien
- Ullevålsveien
- Valderhauggata
- Åkerbergveien
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Illustrations of historical landmarks
- Iconic buildings and monuments
- Representations of local flora and fauna
- Illustrations of waterways and boats
- Sites of natural beauty such as hills or forests
- Cultural icons related to Oslo
Historical and design context
- Year created: 1955
- Created for Fellesbanken; aimed at English-speaking visitors; includes a street map of the city on the reverse side
- Mapmaker/Publisher: Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s, who specialized in thematic maps with artistic elements
- Thematic, pictorial approach showcasing places of interest via illustrations of nature, landmarks, and cultural elements
- Vibrant colors and artistic illustrations typical of mid-20th-century pictorial maps
- Promotional piece reflecting 1950s tourism trends, post-war optimism, and cultural pride
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). 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.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
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 24 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 24 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.
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.
We work with interior designers, hospitality businesses, property professionals, offices and corporate buyers on individual pieces and larger coordinated projects.
This map can be adapted for a particular wall, room or project, and our workshop can help coordinate the dimensions, material and framing before production.
- Exact, oversized and made-to-measure dimensions
- Custom framing, mounting and alternative materials
- Coordinated pieces for several rooms or locations
- Map personalisation, to mark important locations or add extra details
- Map and framing guidance from our workshop
- Local production for projects around the world
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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