Hand-drawn maps: readers' favourites – in pictures

Jacob Everett has a simple idea, but one that he carries out beautifully: the head of a famous person imposed on shoulders made from a map of the area they are associated with. This one of Groucho Marx and a map of New York from 1939 is available to buy at jacobeverett.com. Recommended by Guardian reader Adamki.
Photograph: Jacob Everett

Everrett, who is based in Brighton, has also done a portrait of Alex Ferguson combined with a map of Manchester. He has also done Biggie Smalls and New York, plus Nelson Mandela and South Africa. Photograph: Jacob Everett

One reader recalled this widely praised New Yorker cover. Created by Maira Kalman and Rick Meyerowitz, it is called New Yorkistan and humorously depicts New York boroughs based on their characteristics. Released two months after the 11 September attacks in 2001, it was one of the most successful New Yorker covers of all time and the magazine is said to have made approximately $400,000 from selling signed lithographs and posters. Recommended by Guardian reader herebutforfortune. Photograph: Maira Kalman/Rick Meyerowitz/The New Yorker

From hand-drawn to hand-stitched: the Invisible Lines project is based on sewing countries' borders. The artist, who shared this with us, publishes the pictures on a Tumblr page – this one is of the Czech Republic – and says, "I am fascinated by the seemingly arbitrary nature of borders. Overarchingly, I am intrigued by the circumstances which give rise to the particular nature of each country's borders." Photograph: Invisible Borders

Lucie Conoley's website showcases so many lovely, cheerful maps – Peckham, Macclesfield, the Olympic Village, Norfolk, Chamonix – that it was hard to pick just one. We love the vibrancy of this one of Brixton, south London, where she lives. Thanks for bringing these to our attention, Lucy. Photograph: Lucie Conoley

Writing Maps show an interesting take on the idea of mapping a city. Their maps can be applied to anywhere and are targeted at writers, who want prompts to help explore places and characters in fiction and memoir. The series of 10 maps – available on writingmaps.com – has been devised by Shaun Levin and illustrated by James Daw. Recommend by Writingtime. Photograph: Writing Maps

Another nice idea and lovely gift, the maps produced by A La Carte are made to be customised and come with stickers so you can add your own tips or memories. They currently cover 19 cities and plan to expand. Recommended, via email, by reader Aimee Fordos. Photograph: A La Carte maps

Artist Gareth Wood shared his site, fullermaps.com, which includes this map of Sydney Gardens in Bath. He's currently working on a map of his hometown, Bristol, which is taking him "hundreds of hours" but should be ready soon. Photograph: Gareth Wood

Illustrator May Van Millingen tweeted us to share this lovely map she had created of the area around London's Isle of Dogs. More are available on her website, mayvanmillingen.com. Photograph: May Van Millingen

Borgarmynd-Design Studio created this highly detailed, hand-drawn road map of the whole of Iceland. A zoomable version of the map can be found at icelandillustrated.com. Recommend by Guardian reader zMartG001. Photograph: Borgarmynd-Design Studio

A detail of the Borgarmynd-Design Studio's Iceland map. Photograph: Borgarmynd-Design Studio

Nate Padavick told us about the site he runs with his sister, Salli Swindell, called theydrawandtravel.com, which features over 750 maps by illustrators around the world, many of which are available to buy. This one of West Yorkshire is by local artist Tom Wooley, who writes about its creation on his site, tomwoolley.com. Photograph: Tom Wooley

Another reader pointed us towards the website of artist Susan Hunt Yule, who has a fondness for maps and plans. Here is one of Manhattan, with Europe appearing behind it. Recommended by moleaworth_2. Photograph: Susan Hunt Yule

Here's another one by Susan Hunt Yule. Many of her maps are commissioned, but this one was a personal project – it shows New York's Nolita neighbourhood, where she lives. Photograph: Susan Hunt Yule

Nick Soucek stepped forward to show us his Little Maps blog, reminding us we have all created many hand-drawn maps of our own, if you count the ones scrawled on napkins, beer mats and scraps of paper. His collection includes this one, by a friend called Bridget, mapping how to get home after a New Year's Eve party. Photograph: Nick Soucek

Ursula Hitz's typographic maps aren't hand-drawn, but they are hand-printed – so one reader considered it fair to sneak her into the mix. Following New York, Berlin, London and San Francisco, this is her latest work: Amsterdam. She sells her maps at ursulahitz.com. Recommended by AM123. Photograph: Ursula Hitz