Maps are often very complex images, yet a closer look at them can reveal unusual, unexpected and beautiful aspects of places and their histories. The details illustrated in the British Library Diary 2012 have been selected from maps in the impressive collections of the British Library, dating from the medieval period to the twentieth century. These include hand-drawn and printed maps of the world, cities, regions, countries, and beyond, and feature the people and creatures inhabiting them. By isolating unique points of interest and artistry in these maps, the diary celebrates the richness with which both well-loved and far-flung places have been represented.