Sanders of Oxford

Sanders of Oxford has been trading in antique prints, maps, and engravings since 1967, and the High Street shop is one of those places that stops people in their tracks. The window display alone — usually featuring hand-coloured county maps, architectural engravings of Oxford colleges, or botanical illustrations — is enough to pull you inside. Once in, you enter a world of carefully catalogued visual history spanning several centuries.

The map collection is extensive. County maps by Speed, Saxton, and Blaeu sit alongside city plans, sea charts, and world maps dating from the sixteenth century onwards. The Oxford-specific material is naturally strong — original engravings of colleges, views of the city from different eras, and academic prints that capture the university's history in ways that photographs never quite match. Everything is genuine, properly attributed, and priced according to age, condition, and rarity.

For visitors, Sanders solves the Oxford souvenir problem elegantly. Instead of a mass-produced print of the Radcliffe Camera, you can buy an original nineteenth-century engraving of it — something with genuine age and character that will look beautiful framed. The staff are deeply knowledgeable and will happily talk you through the history of any piece.

What to look for

The Oxford views and college engravings are the most popular items and range from affordable to serious collector territory. County maps of your home area make personal and unusual gifts. The botanical and natural history prints are consistently beautiful and suit modern interiors well. Ask to see the map drawers — not everything is on display, and the staff will pull out pieces to match your interests. The shop also offers framing services for anything you purchase.