Short: The World Through Maps

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John Rennie Short. The World Through Maps : A History of Cartography. Buffalo [NY] : Firefly Books, 2003. 224 pages; illustrated with maps and photographs.

It is rare for a large-format picture book to exhibit depth of information and understanding in its text, but this one does. Built around a fascinating and beautiful presentation of historical maps, broadly construed, Short tells the history of cartography in short, easily digestible essays, each accompanied by several illustrations. He also discusses the development of cartography, cartographic techniques, cartography in different societies, and the deeper meaning of maps. His writing is straightforward, yet precise and comprehensive. From beginning to end, the story is compelling.

See also our article Surveying the American West, which combines the text of two of Short's original chapters: "Surveying The National Territory" and "The Great Surveys".

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