Rare Old Map of Boston, 1769 by William Price: Beacon Hill, Downtown, North, South, West End

This 1769 map of Boston, Massachusetts, by William Price, is a fascinating glimpse into the city's past. The map is oriented with north toward the upper right and includes indexes, tables, and descriptions. It is a street map, providing a detailed look at the city's layout, including significant neighborhoods, regions, landmarks, and rivers.

Price's map is particularly interesting because it captures Boston on the cusp of the American Revolution. The map shows the city as it was before the major changes that would come with the war, making it a valuable historical document. Additionally, the map is visually appealing, with its decorative cartouche and detailed engravings.

One of the most striking features of the map is the way it depicts the city's growth. The map shows how Boston had expanded significantly since the early 18th century, with new streets and buildings added to accommodate the growing population. The map also shows the city's major landmarks, including Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, and the Old South Meeting House.

Another interesting aspect of the map is the way it shows the city's relationship to the surrounding area. The map includes the Charles River and the Boston Harbor, showing how the city was connected to the wider world. Additionally, the map shows the nearby towns of Charlestown, Roxbury, and Dorchester, providing a sense of the region's geography.

Overall, this map of Boston by William Price is a valuable historical document that provides a fascinating glimpse into the city's past. The map is visually appealing, historically significant, and offers a wealth of information about Boston on the eve of the American Revolution.

This is an old map, and not every modern place is shown, or they may be on the map with a different name. If this was a modern map, covering the same area, the following things would be visible on the map:

Neighbourhoods:

• Beacon Hill
• Downtown Boston
• North End
• South End
• West End

Major Streets:

• Cambridge Street
• Hanover Street
• King Street
• Marlborough Street
• Milk Street
• Queen Street
• State Street
• Tremont Street
• Washington Street

Major Parks:

• Boston Common
• Boston Public Garden

Historic Landmarks:

• Faneuil Hall
• King's Chapel
• Old State House
• Old South Meeting House
• Paul Revere House
• Trinity Church

Complete list of all labelled places (streets, buildings, landmarks, etc) that are 100% visibly identifiable on this map, in alphabetical order:

• A New Plan of ye Great Town of Boston in New England in America, with the many additionall Buildings, & new Streets, to the year, 1769
• Battery March
• Beacon Hill
• Boston Neck
• Brattle Street
• Cambridge Street
• Castle William
• Charles River
• Common
• Cornhill
• Court House
• Custom House
• Dock Square
• Faneuil Hall
• Fort Hill
• Fort William
• Governor's House
• Granary Burying Ground
• Hanover Street
• King Street
• King's Chapel
• Long Wharf
• Marlborough Street
• Milk Street
• New Brick Church
• North Battery
• North End
• Old Brick Church
• Old South Meeting House
• Orange Street
• Paul Revere House
• Queen Street
• Rope Walk
• Royal Exchange Tavern
• School Street
• South Battery
• South End
• State House
• State Street
• Sudbury Street
• Summer Street
• Tremont Street
• Trinity Church
• Washington Street
• West End
• William Price

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 70in (180cm). 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.

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.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

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 in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

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

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) 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).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

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 are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

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 on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map 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.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.