diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik_envelope.cpp b/bindings/python/mapnik_envelope.cpp
index 65ca1a69c..553abea6a 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik_envelope.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik_envelope.cpp
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ void export_envelope()
         .def(self * float()) // __mult__
         .def(float() * self) 
         .def(self / float()) // __div__
+        .def("__getitem__",&box2d<double>::operator[])
         .def_pickle(envelope_pickle_suite())
         ;
 }
diff --git a/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp b/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp
index 752f1dcd5..dc861a8bc 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ public:
     box2d_type& operator+=(box2d_type const& other);
     box2d_type& operator-=(box2d_type const& other);
     box2d_type& operator*=(T);
-    box2d_type& operator/=(T);    
+    box2d_type& operator/=(T);
+    T operator[](int index) const;
 };
     
 template <class charT,class traits,class T>
diff --git a/src/box2d.cpp b/src/box2d.cpp
index 221a65e90..88bb29c55 100644
--- a/src/box2d.cpp
+++ b/src/box2d.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
 
 #include <mapnik/box2d.hpp>
 
+// stl
+#include <stdexcept>
+
 namespace mapnik
 {
 template <typename T>
@@ -339,6 +342,32 @@ box2d<T>& box2d<T>::operator/=(T t)
     maxy_ = c.y + sy;
     return *this;
 }
+
+template <typename T>    
+T box2d<T>::operator[] (int index) const
+{
+    switch(index)
+    {
+    case 0:
+        return minx_;
+    case 1:
+        return miny_;
+    case 2:
+        return maxx_;
+    case 3:
+        return maxy_;
+    case -4:
+        return minx_;
+    case -3:
+        return miny_;
+    case -2:
+        return maxx_;
+    case -1:
+        return maxy_;
+    default:
+        throw std::out_of_range("index out of range, max value is 3, min value is -4 ");
+    }
+}
     
 template class box2d<int>;
 template class box2d<double>;
diff --git a/tests/python_tests/object_test.py b/tests/python_tests/object_test.py
index 752ac7d64..40a8f303c 100644
--- a/tests/python_tests/object_test.py
+++ b/tests/python_tests/object_test.py
@@ -482,7 +482,16 @@ def test_envelope_init():
 
     eq_(e.maxx, 200)
     eq_(e.maxy, 200)
-
+    
+    eq_(e[0],100)
+    eq_(e[1],100)
+    eq_(e[2],200)
+    eq_(e[3],200)
+    eq_(e[0],e[-4])
+    eq_(e[1],e[-3])
+    eq_(e[2],e[-2])
+    eq_(e[3],e[-1])
+    
     c = e.center()
 
     eq_(c.x, 150)