Map of Nova Scotia or Acadia with the Islands of Cape Breton and St. John’s, engraved in 1768, captures the British maritime frontier at a moment of decisive consolidation. Drawn by Captain John Montresor and issued in London by Andrew Dury, it surveys a coast newly pivotal after the French and Indian War. The chart spans the peninsulas and archipelagos of modern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, and St. John’s Island (now Prince Edward Island), with the adjacent shores of present-day New Brunswick. Its purpose is unmistakable: to guide ships and soldiers alike. Coastal soundings, shoals, and promontories are rendered with exactitude, while inland hills and wooded relief cue the terrain beyond the harbors—an authoritative synthesis of geography and strategy composed for a newly ascendant empire.

Montresor, a gifted British military engineer and surveyor, was among the most accomplished cartographic eyes in North America after 1763. His field experience—bridging reconnaissance, fortification design, and coastal survey—imbues the map with a tactician’s clarity. Under his hand, estuaries are not merely scenic but defensible, and channels are assessed for their depth, shelter, and approach. Dury, a discerning London publisher, translated this intelligence into an elegant, widely circulated print, aligning commercial navigators and government planners around a common geographic intelligence. Together they produced a work that bridges boardroom and quarterdeck, its authority grounded in the hard arithmetic of bearings, tides, and barracks.

The design is a masterclass in legibility and poise. Hachures articulate the uplands and ridges, pictorial relief hints at vegetation, and careful hand-coloring draws the eye to the intricate littoral—the true stage of Atlantic power. Along the margins and in key channels, soundings pepper the seas; banks and shoals are annotated with warnings that culminate around notorious Sable Island, where surf and shifting sand have long menaced shipping. The Strait of Canso is cleanly cut, the Bras d’Or passages suggested in their broken, lake-like intricacy, and the Bay of Fundy’s inlets are gauged for approach. Administrative boundaries and an abundant lexicon of place names stitch together a densely peopled coastline, while engraved vignettes nod to maritime enterprise and the bustle of colonial settlements.

Strategic towns and fortifications anchor the composition. Halifax emerges as Britain’s principal Atlantic bastion, a naval refuge and entrepôt whose approaches are measured with particular care. Fort Annapolis and the old stronghold at Louisbourg appear as sentinels of earlier rivalries, their positions contextualized within a chain of harbors and anchorages. Across St. John’s Island, nascent colonial nuclei—Charlottetown and the Summerside shore—take their places amid fisheries and arable tracts, while the coasts encompassing present-day Sydney and Glace Bay on Cape Breton are charted for their natural harbors and resources. Roads, batteries, and coastal settlements interlock here as a matrix of imperial logistics, each label and line a cue to how men, materiel, and markets moved.

Historically, the map marks Britain’s pivot from conquest to control. After the Treaty of Paris, supremacy in Atlantic Canada hinged on securing sea lanes, provisioning garrisons, and protecting fisheries—tasks that demanded reliable charts. Montresor presents not just a picture but a working instrument: a register of hazards and havens that links Halifax to Louisbourg, St. John’s Island to the Gulf routes, and the Bay of Fundy to the broader North Atlantic circuit. The profusion of names and boundaries signals administrative integration, while the coastal exactitude speaks to naval doctrine. Today, it stands as a vital document of policy rendered as geography—an object where beauty, authority, and imperial intent are elegantly, indelibly intertwined.

Cities and towns on this map

• Halifax (modern-day population: ~403,000)
• Annapolis (modern-day population: ~20,000)
• Louisbourg (modern-day population: ~1,000)
• Sydney (modern-day population: ~31,000)
• Glace Bay (modern-day population: ~18,000)
• Charlottetown (modern-day population: ~36,000)
• Summerside (modern-day population: ~14,000)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Key Locations: Fort Annapolis, Halifax, Louisbourg
• Coastal Features: Detailed soundings and representations of navigational hazards, especially around Sable Island
• Topographical Elements: Representation of hills, vegetation, and depths in coastal waters
• Boundaries and Names: Numerous place names and administrative boundaries are depicted
• Pictorial Relief: Engraved illustrations such as the depiction of maritime activities or settlements

Historical and design context

• Creation Date: 1768
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by Captain John Montresor, published by A. Dury in London
• Mapmaker’s Background: British military engineer known for extensive surveying, especially post–French and Indian War
• Theme and Topics: Coastal geography, navigational hazards, and military fortifications; intended as a navigational tool
• Countries/Regions Shown: Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, St. John’s Island (Prince Edward Island), and parts of New Brunswick
• Design Style: Hachures for topography, pictorial relief, and hand-coloring emphasizing coastal areas and waterways
• Historical Significance: Reflects British strategic focus on maritime navigation and control in newly acquired North American territories

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 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 16in (40cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

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.

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.

Alcune delle mie vecchie mappe sono ora disponibili come tele incorniciate. Per favore contattami se desideri ordinare una dimensione che non è disponibile nel mio negozio.

Le vecchie mappe su tela sono un'alternativa interessante alle mappe incorniciate in modo convenzionale. A seconda del tuo gusto personale e dell'arredamento della stanza, le mappe su tela possono "risaltare" un po' di più rispetto a una mappa incorniciata.

Scopri di più sulle mie mappe su tela incorniciate.

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.