Chart of the World Showing the Forms and Directions of the Ocean Currents, engraved by Alexander Keith Johnston and issued in 1852 by William Blackwood & Sons of Edinburgh and London, distills the restless circulation of the seas into a masterwork of Victorian scientific cartography. Johnston—among the great popularizers of physical geography—transforms the globe into a legible system, where currents become the organizing principle for understanding climate, commerce, and exploration. The map’s didactic clarity reflects the mid‑19th century thirst for synthesis: it compiles the best contemporary observations into a single, authoritative planisphere that mariners, scholars, and curious readers could consult to grasp how invisible forces braid the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans into one dynamic continuum.

Johnston’s design marries elegance and empiricism. A refined full‑color palette differentiates oceans from continents, while meticulous hachures confer palpable depth to mountain chains and coastal highlands—subtle cues that hint at how continental forms steer marine flow. Directional arrows sweep across the basins with disciplined regularity, their annotations transforming the sea into a readable network of paths and returns. A prominently placed title and instructional cartouche underscore the map’s pedagogic mission, and a clear scale bar anchors interpretation. The chosen global projection privileges uninterrupted oceanic expanses, allowing the viewer to trace currents across latitudes with minimal visual fracture—a cartographic choice that privileges process over mere outline.

What emerges is a lucid atlas of movement. The Gulf Stream arcs boldly from the Caribbean to northern Europe; the cold Humboldt (Peru) Current descends the Pacific flank of South America; the Kuroshio sweeps past Japan; and the Benguela and Agulhas systems bracket southern Africa, all rendered with a precision that anticipates modern oceanography. Across the equatorial belts, counter‑flows and trade‑wind‑driven drifts reveal the great exchange between hemispheres, while the Southern Ocean’s westerlies hint at circumpolar continuity. For navigators, such patterns meant shorter passages and safer routes; for climatologists, they signposted the transfer of heat and moisture that knits monsoon, storm track, and temperate weather into one planetary engine.

Two incisive insets in the lower left deepen the argument. A diagram of oceanic proportions starkly contrasts the supremacy of water over land, reframing the world as a maritime planet whose surface processes are ocean-led. Alongside it, a comparative elevation panel—expressed through disciplined hachure—juxtaposes continental relief with the imagined gradients that sculpt coastlines and deflect currents. Together these vignettes reveal Johnston’s Humboldtian vision: geography as an interlocking system where topography, wind, and water co‑determine climate and commerce. The presence of the Arctic and Antarctic frontiers, with their marginal seas and circumpolar streams, reminds the viewer that the world’s vastest flows owe their coherence to polar engines and planetary rotation.

Issued at a moment when clipper ships chased seasonal winds and steam began to renegotiate ocean time, Johnston’s chart crystallizes the scientific turn of its age—sober, comparative, and global in scope. Published by Blackwood & Sons, whose presses carried the Physical Atlas into libraries and cabinets across Britain and beyond, it embodies the Victorian union of beauty and utility. Today, it reads as both an artifact of pioneering thematic cartography and an eerily modern system map: a graceful blueprint of the currents that still pattern our weather, steer our ships, and thread the continents together.

Countries and regions on this map

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• Australia
• Antarctica
• Arctic regions
• Various islands and archipelagos within the oceans

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Ocean Currents: Clearly illustrated, with directional arrows and labels indicating the flow of various currents.
• Inset Maps: Two smaller maps in the lower left corner indicating oceanic proportions and comparative elevation.
• Hachured Relief: Landforms are textured with hachures, giving a three-dimensional appearance.
• Title and Cartouche: The title is prominently displayed at the top, contributing to the map's instructional purpose.
• Scale: A scale bar for distance measurement is visible.

Historical and design context

• Created in 1852 by Alexander Keith Johnston.
• Published by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, London.
• Thematic map focusing on ocean currents; a smaller version of a larger atlas.
• Printed in full color; relief depiction aligns with mid-19th-century techniques.
• Significant to mid-19th-century navigation and climatology, reflecting contemporary scientific and practical needs.

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 16x20in (40x50cm) 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.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my 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.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.