This guide to pre-1900 maps relating to Great Britain and Ireland records for the first time the rich cartographic heritage of these islands. It thus responds to the increasing appreciation of maps as historical documents. The Guideis divided into two sections. The first describes the history and purpose of maps in a series of short essays on the different types of regional and special maps. Part Two is a guide to the collections. It comprises a comprehensive survey of nearly 450 repositories, from the national libraries to the county record offices, and includes some of the private collections. There is a full record, for example, of the rich holdings of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges. Details are given on each institution's holdings, access, availability of originals, reproductions, indices. The Guideis the first of its kind, we believe, for any country. It should be of great practical value to a wide readership.