Maps Collections

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.

All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.

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How to get copies of maps

You are able to obtain and use copies of many maps from the Library's collections, however, it is your responsibility to check the copyright status of material.

Copies of maps can be obtained in a number of ways:

  1. Download
  2. Ordering digital images or archival prints
  3. Copy with your own equipment
  4. Purchase from the Library Shop

Download copies

Many maps are available for immediate download using our online catalogue.

  1. To download a map, follow the instructions to search an item using the online catalogue.
  2. Once in the record, click the image thumbnail on the left-hand side or 'See item in viewer'. 
  3. Once in viewer mode, click 'Use This' in the right-hand corner of the image.
  4. Download options will appear. Choose a size and click to download the image. 
  5. If you require a higher quality version, record the File Identifier and see the Ordering digital images and archival prints page.

Ordering digital images and archival prints

You can order digital images (for the purpose of study and research) or prints of digital images that you’ve purchased from the Library's collections.

See the Ordering digital images and archival prints page for more information and access to the online order form.

Making copies with your own equipment

You may make copies of material for reference and research purposes using digital cameras with permission from staff at the Special Collections desk.

Staff may need to consider copyright restrictions when handling your requests.

Purchase from the Library Shop

The Library Shop offers a print-on-demand service from the vast collections held in the State Library of New South Wales. We utilise the latest digital printing processes and highest quality materials to produce our archival prints.

Original material from our collections varies in proportion. We print as large as possible on international standard ‘A’ sized papers, allowing a border for mounting/framing. For prints larger than A2 please contact us for a quote.

Bestselling maps:

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Copyright

Copyright protects maps and charts as artisitic works.  

  • If the map's creator died before 1955, the map is out of copyright.  If not, the map remains in copyright until 70 years after the death of the creator.  
  • If the map is a manuscript map, and has never been published, and the creator died more than 50 years ago, the map is in copyright but you may copy the map for the purposes of research and study or with a view to publication.  
  • Maps published by a Commonwealth, State or Territory government publisher are in copyright until 50 years after the end of the year the map was published. 

For a map in copyright, you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holder if you wish to copy the whole map.  More information is provided on our Copyright page.

If you wish to publish an item from the Library's Original Materials collections, you will need to obtain permission from the Library. More information is available at the Publishing and Permissions page.