The Atlas of Atlases : Exploring the most important atlases in history and the cartographers who made them

Author: Parker, Philip

World atlases / world maps

Published on 20 September 2022 by Quarto Publishing PLC (Ivy Press) in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Liber Historica' series.

Hardback | 272 pages, 200+ colour illustrations
208 x 242 x 35 | 1162g

This beautiful book is alavishly illustrated look at the most important atlases in history and the cartographers who made them.

Atlases are books that changed the course of history. Pored over by rulers, explorers and adventures these books were used to build empires, wage wars, encourage diplomacy and nurture trade.

Written by Philip Parker, an authority on the history of maps, this bookbrings these fascinating artefacts to life, offering a unique, lavishly illustrated guide to the history of these incredible books and the cartographers behind them.

All key cartographic works from the last half-millennium are covered, including: The Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, considered the worlds first atlas and produced in 1570 by the Dutch, geographer Abraham Ortelius. The 17th-century Klencke one of the worlds largest books that requires 6 people to carry it The Rand McNally Atlas of 1881, still in print today and a book that turned its makers, William H Rand and Andrew McNally into cartographic royalty.

This beautiful book will engross readers with its detailed, visually stunning illustrations and fascinating story of how map-making has developed throughout human history.