Atlas of Morocco, Explanatory Notes, Plate no. 40 c: Livestock Markets, Veterinary Equipment

Reviews: Atlas of Morocco

Kormoss, I. B. F. · 1957

This paper comprises a biographical tribute to the historian of cartography Leo Bagrow (1881–1957?) and critical reviews of three contemporary atlases. The first section surveys Bagrow’s scholarly output, from his early bibliographic catalogues of 16th‑century printed maps and his studies of Ptolemy’s Geography to the posthumous publication of his comprehensive *History of Cartography*. It highlights his rigorous methodology: his insistence on consulting original sources, his unerring grasp of cartobibliographical detail, and his pioneering use of collotype facsimiles in the series *Anecdota Cartographica*. The discussion also notes the linguistic obstacle that forced Bagrow to rely on translators, which occasionally affected the final expression of his ideas, and records his deep concern for the continuation of the journal *Imago Mundi*. The second part offers detailed evaluations of the *Atlas du Maroc* (a thematic national atlas covering livestock, railways, and other economic topics), the *Atlas of Resources of British Columbia* (Canada’s first regional planning atlas, combining physical, human, and resource maps with explanatory texts), and the *Edinburgh World Atlas* (an academic reference atlas employing conventional layer coloring for relief). The reviews praise the Maroc atlas for its careful cartographic execution and thematic breadth, note the British Columbia atlas as a commendable model for future regional atlases, and critique the Edinburgh atlas for occasional ambiguous color choices in depression areas. Collectively, the paper affirms Bagrow’s lasting influence on map history while providing a snapshot of mid‑20th‑century atlas production and cartographic design standards.