Stanford's General Map of the World (1920)

A Post-War Vision of the Globe in Mercator Projection
Size: 474 mm (w) x 709 mm (h)
Published: 1920 | Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection

This exceptional historical reproduction—Stanford’s General Map of the World (1920)—captures a defining moment in geopolitical history. Published in the wake of the First World War, the map reflects the redrawn boundaries and political restructuring that followed the Treaty of Versailles, offering a fascinating glimpse into the world as it stood on the edge of a new era.

🌍 Historical Significance

Stanford’s map stands out not only for its cartographic clarity but also for what it reveals about the early 20th century’s world order. Territories are shown in strikingly differentiated colours, highlighting:

• British Dominions rendered in red, denoting the vast reach of the British Empire at its zenith

• French and Belgian colonies, and

• Territories newly assigned under the Mandate system of the League of Nations, marking the transition from imperial conquest to international administration

The map notes these colonial possessions and mandates explicitly, offering historians and collectors a powerful artefact from the interwar period.

🗺️ Cartographic Features

• Projection: Mercator’s Projection—ideal for maritime navigation and traditional global views

• Latitude and Longitude: Clearly delineated at 15-degree intervals, with longitude lines annotated to show the time difference from the Greenwich Meridian

• Topographic Detail: Major mountain ranges, rivers, and extensive place names across every continent

• Transport Infrastructure: Principal railway routes on land and global shipping routes at sea, complete with distances

This map is not just an object of beauty—it’s an informative reference work as relevant today to scholars and collectors as it was to navigators and diplomats a century ago.

🖨️ Print & Material Options

You may choose from the following premium finishes:

🖼️ Hanging Options

For laminated and canvas versions, we offer optional wooden hang rails—lacquered in a natural timber finish—attached top and bottom, with a hanging cord included. This elegant presentation method allows you to install the map with a single wall hook, instantly transforming your space.

📦 Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery of hang-railed maps, as each is hand-finished by our professional framer.

✅ Why Choose This Map?

• An original 1920 document reprinted from the Edward Stanford archive

• Ideal for libraries, study walls, historical collections, and educational settings

• A visual record of post-WWI colonial administration and global trade routes

• A beautiful gift for historians, collectors, or map lovers with a fascination for the early 20th century world

Made in Australia | Archival-Grade Reproduction | Historical Accuracy Guaranteed

Let the world of 1920 unfold before your eyes—where Empire was still global currency, railways knit the continents together, and the League of Nations stood as a fragile hope for peace.