Cartographia: Mapping Civilizations

The most beautiful book on map history that I've seen. The text is learned yet very accessible, and the images well chosen and printed. Virga's attention to the politics of maps repeatedly hits the right note. The production is everything you might expect from the Library of Congress. I own one and have given others as gifts. (Heresy disclosure: I've even cut up a much-worn used copy to make framed maps and handmade stationery.)

This book was required reading for my geography class. Great maps and illustrations, very refreshing coming from stagnant textbooks.This book is BIG like really BIG, which makes it great for a coffee table book.Not the easiest book to tote around for class though. :)

Nice book, hope to spend more time with it and do a proper critique. Bought as a gift and was quite disappointed to see the crack in the spine and overall 'pre-pawed' look of what I thought would be a new book.

I saw the author on C-Span2 and ordered the book immediately. I was not disappointed. This is a gorgeous and informative book about the history of maps and how they reflect our understanding of the world in which we live. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the beauty of maps or has wondered how maps were made before aerial photography will love this book.

My gift was very warmly received. Kudos to author and the Library of Congress

I love maps and I collect globes, so when I saw this book on sale I decided to take a chance and purchase. I was not disappointed, I've looked through this book more times than I can count. I highly recommend it.

Cover torn completely from body of book. Book pages are crisp & clean, no dog ears or tears. Text: acceptable; quality of volume: poor. Content of book meets my expectations & needs. Was listed as "Used, nearly new"

This book gives a unique glimpse at not only the history of cartography, but also the various purposes maps can serve. For maps lovers, like myself, the material is a window into other worlds of ancient knowledge thru beautiful illustrations and clear text.

A sumptuously illustrated account of how maps reflected the developments of the world. This is a study of civilisations and how maps kept pace with that and represented those ever evolving changes.This is more than just a book of how maps came to be.

Beautiful book. many full colour reproductions of antique maps.

Husband loves reading this.

What a lovely book.

本書は邦訳『ビジュアル版 地図の歴史』の英文原著である。邦訳に較べ、版の大きさは背の高さでも１．5倍、幅も同様の大きさあり、地図を語るに足る紙幅が準備され、地図が見やすい。英語が読める限り本書の方が意義がある。本文はすべてアート紙で印刷され、見返紙も古地図をあしらっている。地図の歴史を語るに相応しい仕様・デザインである。地図は視覚的に知を収納しており、本に仕上げるにも視覚的配慮は欠かせない。 地図も人類が文字を持ち始めると同時期前後からその歴史があること本書は示唆しながら、地図が単に現代の実用的な道案内や地域に説明を与えるのみならず、地図が対象とする人々、社会、文化と歴史を描き出し、世界観をも描くことを示唆する序文で始まる。　本書で紹介される地図は２００種類を超え、人類最古の地図は楔形文字で記された陶板であり、３５００年以前のもの推測される農地の地図を米国議会図書館収蔵地図として紹介される。地図の持つ意義の奥深さを語り、古代から現代まで、地域は世界中の地域ごとに作成され、議会図書館が収蔵している地図を丹念に解説した意義深い参考図書である。　日本をマルコ･ポーロ時代から始めながらも奈良・平安へと遡りつつ源氏物語を描いた江戸時代の木版画の技法に地図の技法があるとか、その精緻な解説は作成された時代と地域の文化がもつ原点を示唆する深い洞察に満ちている、　挿図も必要に応じてカラー、図版一覧、参考文献一覧、索引と充実しており、地図文化の意味を精緻に語っている。それにして、収録した地図がすべて所蔵品である図書館の奥深さを改めて思い知らされる。戦前、地図は軍事機密でもあったことを思い出す次第。