Su alcuni nuovi atlanti

Summary

This article provides an in-depth scholarly review of several new atlases published in the late 1950s. The author begins with a detailed analysis of the fifth edition of the 'Grande Atlante Geografico' by the De Agostini Geographical Institute in Italy. Completed by U. Bonapace after the death of Luigi Visintin, this edition, while omitting the historical section of the fourth edition, significantly expanded its geographical content, adding 60 world maps on economic activities and updating economic maps for various countries, with about 200 maps for Italy published for the first time. The scale for Italy was increased from 1:1,500,000 to 1:1,250,000, and scales for Austria, Switzerland, Mexico, and others were also enlarged. The author notes that the new edition's strengths lie in its rich thematic maps and more effective relief representation, but the absence of the historical section is a notable drawback. The review then turns to the 'Atlas Général Larousse', criticizing its physical-political maps for poor relief depiction, inconsistent scales, and vivid, inharmonious colors, as well as frequent errors in names and details. However, its thematic maps, especially historical and economic ones, are deemed impressive and valuable. The final part focuses on new atlases in the Hölzel series, including 'The Prentice-Hall World Atlas' for American schools and the 'Nederlandse Wereldatlas' for Dutch schools. The former offers detailed coverage of the US and North America, while the latter excels in its sections on the Netherlands and the Benelux countries, featuring excellent thematic maps on geology, climate, and economy. The author also points out errors in these atlases, such as outdated place names in Italian maps. Additionally, the 'Oxford Australian Atlas' is briefly mentioned, with criticism of its inadequate relief representation. Overall, the article serves as a comprehensive evaluation of the editorial quality, content features, and technical details of the latest atlases of that period.