Introduction to Foreign Atlases: The Times Atlas of the World

Summary

This article reviews the editorial history and cartographic features of The Times Atlas of the World. Since its first edition in 1895, the atlas has undergone multiple revisions; the comprehensive one-volume edition of 1967 had been reprinted six times by 1980, incorporating the latest geographic data and fully updating national maps, with all Chinese place names transliterated into Pinyin. The article highlights its clear printing and extensive index of approximately 200,000 place names, while also critiquing issues such as excessive projection variety in continental maps and improper scale selection in certain plates, which cause map-frame breaks or amputated sections with supplementary insets. Improvement suggestions are proposed. The author commends the atlas's commitment to timely updates and considers this spirit worthy of emulation.