Times Atlas of the World

Summary

The Times Atlas of the World, widely regarded as the finest English-language general world atlas of the 20th century, originated from the German Handatlas tradition. In 1895, The Times of London published its first atlas, based on Richard Andree's 1881 Allgemeiner Handatlas, featuring 117 map plates, 60 of which covered Europe, reflecting the era's Eurocentrism and colonial ambitions. The 1922 Times Survey Atlas, prepared over 15 years by John Bartholomew & Son, expanded non-European coverage to 74 of 112 plates and included a 200,000-entry index. Post-WWII changes led to the five-volume Mid-century Edition (1955-1959), improving geographic balance and projections. The one-volume Comprehensive Edition (1967) enhanced accuracy via satellite observation, and the 1999 Millennium Edition, the tenth edition, featured computer-generated maps as exquisite cartographic examples. This atlas has evolved through multiple editions, significantly influencing global cartography and geographic reference.