I got this good-condition hardcover from Better World Books. i've enjoyed a number of books about the history of exploration, and this one, focusing on the first attempt to map the New World, sounds fascinating.

Among the many interesting points: the ways in which mapping conventions have changed - everything from "north is up" to ways of depicting points of interest to attention to scale. Then there are the difficulties of interpreting old maps, since they generally show a very skewed perspective, especially for areas only partly explored. The artistry of the maps is often as interesting as their geographical or historical significance.

There are examples of "pilgrim itineraries", a sort of early Mapquest showing significant points-of-pilgrimage; there are discussions of the accuracy of early explorers' reports, including Marco Polo; examples of the different methods used for navigation and surveying; and lots of looks at ancient manuscripts that hint at the locations of islands or even continents, but which require serious interpretation.

Then there's "the Vespucci problem": it seems there's controversy as to whether or not the man for whom the Americas are named actually wrote the letters attributed to him. He did make the voyages, and he did write letters - just, perhaps, not the ones that were published.

And there's a lot more, including a look at the way older maps might be repurposed, tweaked and reprinted, sometimes under claims of being all-new maps, muddying the waters. And the joy of discovering another copy of these tantalizing early maps shines through.

Definitely a book for maps and those who love them!

I'm adding this book to the Biographies of Things bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Enjoy!

Ooooh! I think I'm going to enjoy this one. Thanks for adding it to the box!

To the finder of this book:

This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!

I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.

Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)