Peru秘鲁
Curatorial Note
AI-curated draftPeru’s national atlas tradition emerged in the mid-20th century as part of a broader effort to consolidate national identity through comprehensive geographic documentation. The earliest work in this collection, published in 1963 by the Instituto Nacional de Planificación (INP), marked a pioneering attempt to integrate historical, geographical, and landscape perspectives into a single reference. A later edition, the *Atlas Histórico, Geográfico, y de Paisajes Peruanos* (1970), was compiled over seven years with wide academic collaboration, reflecting a deliberate move toward interdisciplinary scholarship. The culminating piece, the *Atlas del Perú* (1989), edited by Carlos Peñaherrera del Aguila and published by the Instituto Geográfico Nacional, served as an encyclopedic update, synthesizing decades of research into a more systematic and accessible national reference. These atlases not only documented Peru’s diverse physical and cultural landscapes but also established a model for collaborative, state-supported cartography in Latin America. Their legacy lies in shaping both public perception of national territory and subsequent academic approaches to regional planning and heritage preservation.
The Shelves
Contemporary and Later Comment
- Article1976Reviews: Atlas Historico, Geografico, y de Paisajes Peruanos
Harold Blakemore
This review assesses the *Atlas Histórico, Geográfico, y de Paisajes Peruanos* (1970), edited by Peñaherrera del Aguila. Compiled over seven years with wide academic collaboration, the atlas comprises five parts: historical cartography and archaeology, contemporary Peru (physical, economic, and social themes), the 24 departments with city plans, frontiers, and landscape photographs. The reviewer praises its accurate, detailed, and clearly presented maps, and notes that although the volume is bulky, its removable sheets enhance usability, making it an indispensable reference on Peru. He also recommends that economic and social-statistical maps be periodically updated by the planning institute to maintain their value.
- Article1994Reviews: Atlas del Perú
Alfonso Gonzalez
This review evaluates the Atlas del Perú (1989), an encyclopedic national atlas edited by Carlos Peñaherrera del Aguila and published by Peru's Instituto Geográfico Nacional. The atlas updates a previous edition and integrates extensive maps, text, photographs, satellite images, and tables covering historical, physical, economic, social, and political themes. It includes both common topics and distinctive ones such as poverty, health, natural regions, and Peruvian activities in Antarctica. A substantial text section supplements the cartographic material, and a comprehensive place-name index enhances usability. The reviewer notes that while the atlas is a major contribution to the understanding of Peru, its organization has flaws: related themes are sometimes separated, and lengthy texts are placed away from corresponding maps. Despite these issues, the atlas is regarded as a significant and valuable reference.
- Article1995Homenaje a la Patria: Latin American National Atlases
Kent, Robert B.
This review essay examines six national atlases of Latin America produced between 1985 and 1992: those of Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia. Its purpose is to evaluate their cartographic quality, thematic coverage, and scholarly value using comparative content analysis. The atlases vary notably in design and depth. Mexico’s three-volume loose-leaf atlas offers exceptional thematic breadth and innovative layout but lacks an index. Cuba’s monumental volume excels in high-quality cartography and detailed treatment of the physical environment. Colombia’s fourth edition concentrates heavily on reference mapping, often at the expense of thematic richness, while Peru’s atlas integrates extensive textual commentary with department-level satellite images. Panama’s atlas achieves a balanced mix of maps and interpretative text, while Bolivia’s version, though visually appealing, omits critical economic geography and fails to provide a geographical index or full bibliography. All volumes contain a wealth of original, primary-source-based information on physical, historical, social, and economic conditions. The review concludes that, despite their individual shortcomings, these atlases are indispensable reference works for any academic library supporting Latin American studies, serving as enduring resources for interdisciplinary research.
From the Physical Collection
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