Cartographical Survey: The National Atlas of Canada (Folio B 1972)

Summary

R. W. Anson reviews Folio B of the fourth edition of The National Atlas of Canada, issued in February 1972 with 32 double-page maps. After placing Canadian atlas publishing within the development of national atlases and tracing its editions of 1906, 1915 and 1957, he explains the fourth edition’s loose-leaf publication: folios draw from physical, human and economic sections and can be released before completion. The complete English and French editions were planned to contain 262 pages of maps, tables and text. Anson praises Folio B’s layout, comparative scales, explanatory text, source documentation and clear printing using up to eight colours, while criticizing the positioning of topic titles on folded sheets. His chief criticism is the reliance of many human and economic subjects on 1961 information despite the 1966 census. He suggests that loose-leaf binding would facilitate revision, without reporting an established revision programme. He also records French pages 93–94 in the English review copy and hopes this is not a common collation fault.