The World Pocket Atlas And Gazetteer

The World Pocket Atlas and Gazetteer (1960) by John Bartholomew – John Bartholomew & Son

ISBN: None
Condition: Good
Published: 1960
Binding: Attractive leather-effect hardback
Offered by: Crappy Old Books

There was a time when knowing where somewhere was required an atlas, a reasonable understanding of geography and the occasional willingness to admit that one had absolutely no idea where Upper Volta might be. This was before satellite navigation, Google Earth and the modern conviction that the entire planet should be available for inspection on a telephone while waiting for a bus.

Welcome to The World Pocket Atlas and Gazetteer, published in 1960 by the distinguished Scottish cartographic firm John Bartholomew & Son, when the world was considerably more mysterious, international boundaries were frequently negotiable, and the British Empire was discovering that its collection of pink-coloured territories was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

The Bartholomew name was synonymous with fine cartography, and this compact volume brings together maps and geographical reference material in a conveniently portable format. It was intended for a world in which people might actually consult a map before embarking upon a journey, rather than blindly following electronic instructions into a flooded farmyard.

And what a fascinating world it records.

In 1960, the Cold War was in full swing, the Soviet Union occupied an enormous portion of the map, and numerous African territories were becoming independent nations. Germany remained divided, the Berlin Wall had yet to be constructed, and the world’s political geography was undergoing changes that would eventually render large sections of contemporary atlases magnificently obsolete.

But therein lies the appeal.

An old atlas isn’t simply a collection of outdated maps. It is a geographical time capsule, preserving the political assumptions, national boundaries and place names of a particular moment in history.

The accompanying gazetteer adds another layer of interest, providing a handy reference to places that may subsequently have changed their names, their national affiliations or, occasionally, their entire political existence.

This particular copy also boasts a rather attractive leather-effect binding, with restrained decorative borders and embossed spine lettering. It has the appearance of a small gentleman’s reference book, the sort of volume one might have discovered in the glove compartment of a Morris Minor or the luggage of an unusually well-prepared colonial administrator.

Condition: Good. A respectable vintage hardback showing the normal signs of age and previous use. The handsome leather-effect binding retains its appealing period character, having survived decades of geographical upheaval without itself requiring redrawing.

Naturally, there is no ISBN. In 1960, books were still expected to possess identities without numerical assistance.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where obsolete national boundaries are celebrated, geographical curiosities are appreciated, and nobody insists that your atlas install an update before you can use it.

A charming collectible for enthusiasts of vintage cartography, historical geography, Cold War history and beautifully presented reference books.

The world may have changed beyond recognition, but fortunately this little atlas hasn’t.

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