Wow. What a coup for Butler Tanner & Dennis to win the Ordnance Survey map printing contract.

"Who can print maps?" is a question that pops up regularly in my Help Line. In fact, while digging through my map-related archives I found this query from January 2003: "We have a job 1,200x1,000mm in size that needs to be folded in the same style as maps are, with eight concertina folds on the long edge. We have large format presses and folders, but don't have this particular folding configuration. Could you suggest someone who does?"

Irony of ironies, that query came from someone at Butler & Tanner. While I'm sure noses will be firmly out of joint at the two specialist map printers on my list other the OS itself: Victoria Litho and Montgomery Litho's Scotprint; it has to be good news that physical map production will remain within these shores rather than ending up in, say, Shanghai or Italy.

It's certainly the end of an era for the OS too, which published its first map in 1801 and established its own engraving department in the same year. In a way, though, I'm amazed that this particular inplant has lasted as long as it has, and the writing looked to be on the wall in at least A1 format when plans to move to a new site didn't actually include relocating the printing facility.

The next interesting thing to chart - apart from map volumes in an age of Google Maps and the free availability of OS data - will be whether BT&D will transfer the existing OS presses along with the specialist finishing kit as a result of the deal, or whether some fresh press firepower will be required in Frome.