Exhibition of national and regional atlases

Summary

At the Exhibition of National and Regional Atlases, Congress members examined 84 atlases from 39 countries, assembled to stimulate comparisons of thematic and technical presentation. The exhibits included previews of unpublished atlases from Czechoslovakia, Indonesia, Switzerland, the USA, and a regional atlas from Poland, alongside new map series for Australia and India. Newly completed atlases from Great Britain, Israel, France, the USA, and the USSR were shown for the first time. Countries like Cameroon, Morocco, and the Netherlands displayed published sections of their serial national atlas projects. The exhibition illustrated the work of the National Atlases Commission, where experimentation and systematization must accompany rapid production. Despite criticisms of loose-leaf serial atlases, their value was evident, as many displayed atlases could not have been completed otherwise. The wide range of themes rekindled discussions on suitable topics for national and regional atlases. Organizers expressed deep gratitude to national committees, publishers, and libraries for providing the expensive exhibits.