An interesting complete series of Edward Stanford maps of London overprinted to show various governmental subdivisions.
Stanford's description of the contents lists the maps thusly:
No. 1. MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS: MAP OF LONDON AND ITS ENVIRONS, showing the boundary of the jurisdiction of the Board of Works, with the Parishes, the Districts, and extra Parochial Places; also the boundaries of the City of London. Coloured to show Municipal Districts as in the First Schedule, annexed to the London Government Bill, 1884. Inset letterpress gives the names of the Parishes mentioned in Schedule A, and the Districts mentioned in Schedule B, to the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, also the number of Elected Common Council, and of the Parochial Vestries and District Boards which elect the Members of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and the number of Members represented on the Metropolitan Board of Works by each Parish, &c.. number of Inhabited Houses, 1871. The boundaries of Vestries, Paving Commissioners, Burial Boards, Commissioners for Baths, and Commissioners for Public Libraries, are conterminous with the Parish or District boundaries.
No. 2. WATER COMPANIES' DISTRICTS: MAP OF LONDON AND ITS ENVIRONS, showing the boundary of the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and of the City of London, coloured to show the districts within the Metropolitan area actually supplied by the following Companies:-New River, West Middlesex, Grand Junction, Chelsea, East London, Southwark and Vauxhall, Lambeth, and Kent.
No. 3. GAS COMPANIES' DISTRICTS: MAP OF LONDON AND ITS ENVIRONS, showing the boundary of the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the City of London, and the districts within the Metropolitan area, served by the following Gas Companies, viz.: Commercial Gas Light and Coke Company, Brentford, Wandsworth, and Putney, South Metropolitan, Mitcham, Crystal Palace, Woolwich Equitable, and Woolwich, Plumstead, and Charlton Companies.
No. 4. PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGHS: -MAP OF LONDON AND ITS ENVIRONS. showing the boundary of the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the City of London, and the following Parliamentary Boroughs:-Chelsea, Marylebone, Westminster, Finsbury, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, and Greenwich. This Map shows very graphically the immense area of Suburban London within the Metropolitan boundary that is excluded from the Borough Franchise.
No 5. POOR LAW UNIONS AND REGISTRATION DISTRICTS: MAP OF LONDON AND ITS ENVIRONS, showing the boundary of the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the City of London, and the Poor Law Unions as follows:- Hampstead, St. Pancras, St. Marylebone, Paddington, Kensington, Fulham, Chelsea, St. George's Hanover Square, Westminster, Strand, St. Giles, St. Saviour, Southwark, Stepney, City of London, Lambeth, Islington, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Camberwell, St. George's-in-the East, Mile End Old Town, Woolwich, Whitechapel, Greenwich, Wandsworth, Hackney, Holborn, Poplar, Lewisham, St. Olave, and Southwark. The Registration Districts are co-extensive with the Poor Law Unions, except that the Poor Law Unions of Paddington and Kensington form the Registration District of Kensington.
Edward Stanford (1827-1904) was a prominent British mapmaker and publisher. A native of Holborn in the heart of London, Edward was apprenticed to a printer and stationer at the age of 14. After his first master died, he worked with several others, including Trelawny W. Saunders of Charing Cross. Saunders oversaw young Edward’s early career, ensuring that he became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Associations with the Society eventually brought Sanders much business and gave him a reputation as a publisher of explorers. As testament to this reputation, the Stanford Range in British Columbia was named for him by John Palliser.
Stanford briefly partnered with Saunders in 1852 before striking out on his own in 1853. He was an agent for the Ordnance Survey, the Admiralty, the Geological Survey, the Trigonometrical Survey of India, and the India Office. He also controlled the maps of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, another lucrative source of income. In 1857, Stanford founded his namesake Geographical Establishment, with Saunders and A. K. Johnston as engravers. Thereafter, Stanford was known for his “library maps”, particularly those of Africa and Asia.
Addresses and Years of Operation:
- 6 Charing Cross, London (1848): Edward Stanford's initial place of employment at Trelawney Saunders' shop.
- 7 and 8 Charing Cross, London (1853): Stanford expanded his shop to these addresses.
- 55 Charing Cross, London (1873): The shop moved to this larger location.
- 12-14 Long Acre, London (1873): Site of the new print works and current flagship store.
- 7 Mercer Walk, London (2019): Stanfords moved to this address, continuing its legacy.
Stanford's work with Chief Cartographer John Bolton, including the 1858 Library Map of Europe, positioned the company as a leader in quality cartography during a time of exploration and colonialism. Their 1862 Library Map of London earned acclaim from the Royal Geographical Society. With the business thriving, Stanford purchased Staunton & Son in 1877 and, upon retiring in 1885, handed over the reins to his son, Edward Stanford II.
As sole agents for Ordnance Survey Maps, the company's influence and reputation grew, culminating in the Stanford’s London Atlas Of Universal Geography, which was presented to Queen Victoria in 1887. The transition into the 20th century saw further integration of retail, print, and cartographic operations at Long Acre.
During World War I, Stanford's became an essential publisher for the War Office. Edward Fraser Stanford took over in 1917, steering the company through the interwar period and innovations, such as the world’s smallest maps in 1922 and the Daily Mail Motor Road Map in 1926.
Withstanding a bombing in WWII, the company continued under the stewardship of John Keith Stanford and was sold to George Philip & Son in 1947. As it adapted to the digital age, Stanfords received the Ordnance Survey Premier Partner status in 2007 and ventured into online mapping and data services.
Stanfords, now an icon for travellers and explorers, has maintained its cultural relevance and retail success well into the 21st century, underpinned by a legacy of entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to cartographic excellence.