World and thematic atlases: a summary survey

Summary

This paper is a summary survey of world atlases and thematic atlases, continuing the author's earlier work on regional atlases. The article begins by noting that despite criticisms that geographers have made insufficient progress in advancing modern geographical study, the abundant output of atlas publications itself serves as a powerful rebuttal to such charges. The author then systematically reviews 33 world atlases and 31 thematic atlases. In the world atlas section, the author highlights three major comprehensive reference atlases—the Italian Touring Club's "Atlante internazionale," Bartholomew's "Times Atlas of the World," and the Soviet "Atlas mira"—as remaining unsurpassed. Additional reviews cover Hammond's "Ambassador World Atlas," the Curtis-Doubleday World Atlas, Britain's "Whitehall Atlas," the German Bertelsmann and Westermann atlases, the Italian De Agostini atlas, and various Soviet "Atlas mira" editions, encompassing everything from large reference works to portable desk atlases. In the thematic atlas section, the article covers ocean atlases, climate atlases, economic atlases, forestry atlases, and other subjects, with particular attention to the monumental three-volume Soviet "Morskoy atlas" (Marine Atlas) and oceanographic atlases produced by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office, and the American Geographical Society. In evaluating each atlas, the author acknowledges both merits and shortcomings, noting issues such as inconsistent place-name spellings, absence of transportation information, and inconvenient index arrangements. Overall, this paper provides an invaluable reference guide for map librarians, geographers, and cartographers, revealing the general landscape and development trends of world atlas publishing during the late 1950s and early 1960s.