Copying services for documents and images
We offer a wide range of document and image copying services in a variety of formats.
Some of the images and documents at The London Archives (TLA) have already been digitised. Digital copies of many images in our collections are available on the London Picture Archive.
Our catalogue also provides access to digital copies of documents in our collections, particularly those which are very well known, such as Magna Carta. Please check our catalogue to see which documents have already been digitised.
If there is no copy of a document or image that you need, we can probably create one. The type of copying process used depends on your requirements as well as the physical condition of the document.
If you are visiting in person, you can also buy a photography permit to use your own device to photograph material.
All copying is subject our Document and Image Copying Policy which ensures that the physical condition and the copyright status of the item allow a copy to be made. Any copied images are for private study and research only - if you want to publish material online or elsewhere you may need to apply for a licence, please contact us for more information.
Ordering a copy in person at The London Archives
Ask a member of staff if you want to order a copy. When we take your order, we will review the physical condition of the document. This is to ensure that it is fit to be copied, and to assess any special measures that we may need to take during the process of making a copy.
Ordering a copy remotely
If you are unable to visit The London Archives to order copies in person, we can assess documents on your behalf and provide you with an exact quote for all suitable copying options.
The fee for this assessment costs:
- £20 for a single document
- From £40 for multiple documents
This fee is non refundable, and additional to the actual copying costs. Once we know which item you'd like to have copied, we will ask you to pay the assessment fee before proceeding.
Ask about copying a documentHow long will it take?
Once we've received your order we will process it within 10 working days. This does not include postage time for physical items if you have chosen this option.
Some large scale orders (which are subject to agreement) may take longer to complete.
How much will copying cost?
The cost will depend on what kind of copying you choose. Staff are happy to advise you if you're not sure which option is best.
Printed copies
- A white border will be present on printed copies. The size of the border will depend on the dimensions of the original document
- All copies can be produced in colour or black and white
- The thickness of the paper is measured in grams per square metre (gsm) - the higher the number, the thicker the paper
| Size | Paper | Price | Price (excluding VAT) |
| A4 | Matt finish, 100gsm paper | £5.50 | £4.59 |
| A3 | Matt finish, 100gsm paper | £11 | £9.17 |
| A2 | Matt finish 160gsm, or satin finish 190gsm paper | £22 | £18.34 |
| A1 | Matt finish 160gsm, or satin finish 190gsm paper | £40 | £33.34 |
| A0 | Matt finish 160gsm, or satin finish 190gsm paper | £45 | £37.50 |
Digital copies
- Files are supplied at 300ppi (pixels per inch) as standard
- Files of up to 2GB can be emailed or sent via a download link (free of charge), or sent by CD (up to 640MB, £2.50), DVD (4GB, £5) or USB (various sizes and prices)
- Jpegs are compressed files which will open to full size in photo imaging software
- Individual images can be combined into PDF files for an additional 30p per image
| Copy level | Approximate file size and format | Approximate dimensions | Price | Price (excluding VAT) |
| Service A - suitable for screen use and small printouts | 4.5MB jpeg | 1536x1020 pixels | £10 | £8.33 |
| Service B - suitable for printing up to A4 | 18MB jpeg or tiff | 2980x2100 pixels | £20 | £16.67 |
| Service C - suitable for printing up to A3 and for copying smaller details. | 30MB jpeg or tiff | 3900x2750 pixels | £30 | £25 |
| Service D - suitable for printing up to A2 and for large items with fine detail. | 80MB jpeg or tiff | 6300x4450 pixels | £50 | £41.67 |
| Service E - suitable for printing up to A1 and for large items with fine detail. | 200mb jpeg or tiff | 10200 x 6800 pixels | £100 | £83.33 |
Discounts for copying consecutive pages
Where more than one digital copy is required, a reduced price is available, subject to the following conditions:
- the items must be from the same document
- pages must be in consecutive order
- the original document can be no larger than A3 in size
Orders are charged at full price for the first page, then subsequent pages are charged at:
- Service A - £2.10, or £1.75 excluding VAT
- Service B - £4.20, or £3.50 excluding VAT
Photocopies
- Due to the often fragile nature of archive documents, photocopying is suitable in only a very few circumstances
- Photocopies are printed on 80gsm paper
- Photocopies can be printed in colour or black and white
| Size | Price | Price (excluding VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | £2 | £1.67 |
| A3 | £3 | £2.50 |
Prints from microfilm
When you view microfilmed documents at TLA, you can print black and white copies of pages on A4 paper yourself. If you are unable to visit us in person, our staff can copy microfilmed pages on your behalf.
| Method | Price | Price (excluding VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Self service | 20p | n/a |
| Staff | £10 | £8.33 |
Photo quality prints
- Photo quality prints can be printed on gloss or matt photo-quality paper
- Prints can be produced in black and white or colour
| Size (inches) | Price | Price (excluding VAT) |
| 8" x 6" | £8 | £6.67 |
| 10" x 8" | £11.50 | £9.58 |
| 12" x 8" | £16 | £13.34 |
Complete microfilm copying
Entire microfilms can be copied onto film reels, or digital copies can be created. Silver positive films appears as black text on a white background, and have an approximate 500 years of archival life if stored to ISO standards. Diazo films appears as white text on a black background and have an approximate 50 years archival life (dependant on usage).
- Copies of microfilms are supplied on archival quality 35mm film
- Turnaround time is dependant on the size of the job and will be given on application
- Customers pay for delivery to and from the copying company. Orders below £200 (ex VAT) will incur an extra £15 carriage cost
| Type of copy | Minimum order | Price | Price (excluding VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver positive film | 3 rolls | £70 | £58.33 |
| Diazo film | 5 rolls | £40 | £33.33 |
| Microfilm digitisation | 4 rolls | £55 | £45.83 |
Additional services
Rush fee
We offer a 24-hour turnaround for urgent requests (Monday to Thursday only). This service costs £30 for up to two prints or digital files. This is in addition to the basic copying fees.
Requests for more than two items using the rush service will need to be pre-authorised to ensure that the studio can fulfil the request in time. Further fees will apply in this case e.g. £60 for 3-4 files, £90 for 5-6 files.
Image editing
Image alterations and enhancements are available, including cropping, and producing exact 1:1 scale prints. This service costs £30 for a minimum of 30 minutes design time and is charged on a quotation basis.