Uniqueness of the embedding of a 2-complex into a 3-manifold.
All maps of type (m,n) are covered by a universal map M(m,n) which lies on one of the three simply connected Riemann surfaces; in fact M(m,n) covers all maps of type (r,s) where r|m and s|n. In this paper we construct a tessellation M which is universal for all maps on all surfaces. We also consider the tessellation M(8,3) which covers all triangular maps. This coincides with the well-known Farey tessellation and we find many connections between M(8,3) and M.