Cartographia: Mapping Civilizations | 
 enlarge | Authors: Vincent Virga, Library Of Congress
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $60.00
Buy Used: $28.12
You Save: $31.88 (53%)
New (20) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $28.12
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 10625
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 8.1
Dimensions (in): 12.9 x 10.4 x 1.2
ISBN: 0316997668
Dewey Decimal Number: 912
EAN: 9780316997669
ASIN: 0316997668
Publication Date: October 25, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
CARTOGRAPHIA offers a stunning array of 200 of the most beautiful, important, and fascinating maps in existence, from the world's largest cartographic collection, at the Library of Congress. These maps show how our idea of the world has shifted and grown over time, and each map tells its own unique story about nations, politics, and ambitions. The chosen images, with their accompanying stories, introduce the reader to an exciting new way of "reading" maps as travelogues---living history from the earliest of man's imaginings about planet earth to our current attempts at charting cyberspace.
Among the rare gems included in the book are the Waldseemuller Map of the World from 1507, the first to include the designation "America"; pages from the Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of 1570, considered the first modern atlas; rare maps from Africa, Asia, and Oceania that challenge traditional Western perspectives; William Faulkner's hand-drawn 1936 map of the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi; and even a map of the Human Genome. In an oversized format, with gorgeous four-color reproductions throughout, Catrographia will appeal to collectors, historians, and anyone looking for a perfect gift.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Delightfully comprehensive May 15, 2008
Cartographia: Mapping Civilizations - this book was purchased as a present for a member of the family turning 70 years of age - a learned man, keen on history, who already had many books, etc. He was absolutely delighted with this book. I had to search for it, but it was a worthwhile purchase, and one not found in Australia. I thoroughly recommend this book to young and old - it is a book which captures your undivided attention for hours.
An Amazing and Beautiful book about the history of map-making! March 20, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
"Cartographia," by Vincent Virga and the Library of Congress is an amazing volume that explores in depth the development of the art of cartogtraphy, map-making, from ancient times to the present. This handsome, over-sized, volume with full color photos of beautiful and rare maps throughout the ages, is a must-have for anyone interested in history, geography or maps.
The book is arranged in sections divided by region of the world (i.e. Mediterranean, Europe, the Americas, Asia, etc). The text is extremely informative, well-written and engaging, while also very concise and focused. The map photos are absolutely breath-taking! Apparently the U.S. Library of Congress map collection contains more than 4.8 million original maps, and more than 60,000 atlases from ancient times to the present- which is absolutely incredible in and of itself!
Some of the maps and sections I found most interesting were: the early maps of the "New World," with all their interesting speculations and inaccuracies; the maps of Egypt- both by the ancient Egyptians, as well as maps made by Napoleon's early 19th century expedition and others. This magnficient volume also includes some early road and transit maps made right around the time that the national highway system was beginning to take shape across America in the mid twentieth century.
I highly, highly recommend this excellent volume- not only for the amazing maps and excellent text, but also for a sense of perspective of how maps have been shaped by human cultural perceptions of those in power throughout the ages. It is also a great book for parents with school age children, or to display as a living room, coffee table conversation piece. Pick this one up, and enjoy!
Fantastic February 8, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Cant say enough. Love it. Book is a great addition to anyones library.
The delivery was swift, within a week. The price was probably a typo, but it was honored and the book was in near-new condition.
beautiful book January 7, 2008
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
my 23-yr-old son loved this christmas gift. it is a beautifully illustrated book, very interesting
Maps Unlimited January 3, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
In need of a gift for an adult map entusiast wanting to be intrigued and enlightened; a map with added or unusual features to inform and entertain rather than provide directions to places.
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