Does anyone know where to get a digital file of a wartime large scale GSGS map of the city of Amiens? Or could anyone provide me with such a file? Kind regards, Ronald.
Another try: can anyone tell me if for Amiens something similar to GSGS-4420 scale 1:10,500 of Antwerp (see attachment to previous post) exists??? Or even better where it can be found?
The British Library holds a copy of a map in a book in their map collection described as France. Amiens. Scale 1: 8,000. [G.S.G.S. No. 4234.] Copied from a French map 1944. It isn't available online
Thanks! Now at least I know what to look for. Anybody who knows where to find an online version of this map GSGS 4234, Amiens?
....."copy of a map in a book"...... Is that referring to the book 'Invade Mecum' by any chance? Invade Mecum was issued to officers for the Normandy invasion and comprised several volumes containing maps and all sorts of other useful information. Very few copies have survived and fetch small fortunes at auction!. I think Amiens would be in Volume 1. I recognise that that doesn't directly answer your question but hopefully it might generate a few leads.
Hello Ronald, I don’t think what you are looking for exists. Have a look through “Notes on GSGS Maps of France, Belgium and Holland, December 1943.” Page 28 of the booklet lists GSGS 4234 “Town Plans of France”; Amiens is not listed. However on page 31 it refers to “GSGS (Misc.) No. 77, FRANCE: Throughway Town Plans Volume 1”; Amiens is included. This seems to be the publication Sheldrake has found, but the maps, a couple of examples are shown, are only very basic. There is a copy of the book at the Imperial War Museum (Catalogue number LBY 42084). Regards, Richard
Hi Richard, Thanks, and looking at the document from your link I am afraid you are probably right. So, is there anyone who can get me a good quality scan of the Amiens map in "Through-Way, Town Plans of France, Volume 1"? Kind regards, Ronald.
This is the Volume 1 mentioned in my Post #7 and makes up part of Invade Mecum. Again, I recognise that this doesn't directly answer your question but might help re cross-referencing etc.
Hello SDP, Are you really sure they were part of Invade Mecum? I know the Invade Mecum covers contain perforated volumes bound together by a string (see attachments), whereas the "Town Plans" booklets are individually bound and not perforated. I hope someone can give us the answer (and me the map of Amiens). Kind regards, Ronald.
8RB I can't be absolutely certain (as I've never seen an original copy of Invade Mecum) but I'm quite certain that that's correct on the basis of images I've seen of copies up for auction.
Hello SDP, You can find some pictures of an Invade Mecum and its contents in my post #12. Whatever the origin, a 1:8,000 map of Amiens would still be most welcome... Regards, Ronald.
Ronald The closest I've got is 1:50000 (digital format) which is reasonably detailed but obviously doesn't include street names etc. Quite a few old maps on eBay (search 'Amiens map') but not GSGS maps.
Fresh try: can anyone please help me to a good copy of the Amiens map out of the booklet "Through-Way, Town Plans of France, Volume 1"? For a picture of the cover of this see post #10.
Right, one more try: is there anyone who can help me to get a digital copy of the Amiens map from the following book?
You could try writing to the Somme Prefecture in Amiens - Address: 51 Rue de la République, 80000 Amiens, France Enclose your map photo. I can help with written french if necessary.
Hello Ronald, As mentioned in my post #9 there is a copy of “Through-way Town Plans of France” at the Imperial War Musuem. Catalogue number LBY 42084. IWM offer a copying service, photocopies (postage to be added outside UK) or pdfs. I have used it and found it very efficient and it’s only 40p a page. Regards, Richard.