A visit to the Magnificent Maps exhibition at the British Library over the weekend confirmed the fact that yes, I am definitely a cartophile.  I think it’s because creating a map is something else that’s both an art and a science.  My favourite piece at the exhibition was Stephen Walter’s “The Island” http://www.stephenwalter.co.uk/drawings.php which is basically a hand drawn map of London as a commuter island. 

Whilst it’s geographically absolutely correct, it also has annotations on every spare space on the map; detailing personal memories of the artist, along with facts about the area in question.  The fact that it’s so detailed is the best bit about it - something that you could never get tired of looking at, were it hanging on your wall.