JP Sayer's Survey of London picture maps

J.P. Sayer's "Survey of London" Picture Maps are a charming series of twelve lithographs, originally published monthly in 1947 in the Strand Magazine by George Newnes Ltd., and later sold as a bound set, each offering a richly illustrated, pictorial map of a different part of the West End and City of London. Sayer’s signature blend of topographic detail and whimsical embellishment captures post-war London in lively detail, with figures, landmarks, and historic references woven into each scene. The series covers: the Strand from Temple Bar to Wellington Street; Green Park to Piccadilly Circus; Fleet Street; Westminster; the Royal Exchange; Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square; St James’s Park; Blackfriars and New Bridge Street; Trafalgar Square to Aldwych along the Strand; the Tower of London; Mayfair from Berkeley Square to Hyde Park; and a bird’s-eye view of Hyde Park Corner. Collectively, they form a vibrant post-war portrait of the city’s political, commercial, and cultural heart, rendered with humour and historical insight, and remain highly collectible today.