-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: National Atlas of India]]
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 11:22:27 -0700
From: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]

------------------
We possess the 8 volume set, complete with brass screws. Each volume has
a table of contents, but it is a rather idealistic list. Maddingly, each
item is duly listed, but many of the items are marked with an asterisk,
which indicates 'Not included'. In Vol. 1 alone (General & Political
Maps), nine out of the 23 maps in the list are branded as 'Not
included'!

In his introduction to the 1995 printing of the 1986 edition, the
Director of the project, Prithvish Nag states, 'The present volume
consists of a mixture of all these [past] editions [of  loose sheets].
Hence, this set cannot be strictly called the second edition of the
National Atlas of India. Perhaps it will never be possible to do so as
the same edition of all the 300 plates of the Atlas will never be ready
at the same time.'

Despite this logistic tangle, if new editions of the 'Not included'
maps are issued, and if we can acquire them, I can loosen those nice
brass screws and install the maps in their proper sequence in the
folios. Only then could my cherished dream of applying white-out to the
dreaded 'Not included' asterisk on the contents pages be realized!

I wrote a book about travel in India and Pakistan called 'The Grand
Trunk Road From The Front Seat', and included sequences about visiting
the Survey of India in Calcutta and Delhi (not the agency which produced
the National Atlas). In spite of witnessing some of the superficial
signs of the workings of a great Indian bureaucracy and the
extravaganzas therein, I nevertheless developed a great fondness and
respect for their whole enterprise, and for many of the outstanding
people who are part of it. These visits were some time ago now, and I
expect that any new edition of the components of the Atlas will be done
in the current internationally progressive style. I always liked and
appreciated that certain sense of 'handmade' quality to cartographic
things Indian, but I imagine that approach is now gone with the wind,
and the triumph of the computer nerds will, in effect, have come to
places as far afield as rural Gopalganj District in Bihar...

All best,

Brian

Brian P. Bach
Maps Specialist
Documents/Maps
Brooks Library
Central Washington University
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7548
USA
[log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 9/3/2004 1:11:04 PM >>>
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE:      National Atlas of India]
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 09:39:40 +1000
From: Maura O'Connor <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
Matthew
There are several editions of the National Atlas of India.  There are
at
least two loose sets, then there are "bound" editions, ie loose plates
held in place by brass screws, in several volumes, each volume having
its own listing.  There is a new edition coming out at present.  I am
not familiar with the abridged edition. Our loose set, which we file
in
with our maps, has no listing and we simply file in plate number
order.
There are 300 plates in that set, some probably have several editions.
There is no listing for that lot.
I would suggest you separate out the "loose set" and keep in one
straight sequence.  If you then have plates from the"bound" set and no
cover and list, either interfile with the others or retain as a
separate
list.  If it helps and I can obtain copies of the lists from the
volumes, I am happy to forward those to you.  Please let me know.  I
will need an address to send them on!
Yours sincerely
Maura O'Connor
Map Curator
National Library of Australia
Canberra  ACT  2600
Phone : 61 2 6262 1280
Fax: 61 2 6161 1653
Email : [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]]

On Behalf Of Johnnie D. Sutherland
Sent: Friday, 3 September 2004 5:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: National Atlas of India]


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: National Atlas of India
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 12:21:24 -0700
From: Matthew Parsons <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
References: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
I struggling to understand how the plates from the National Atlas of
India
are arranged.  I've have several dozen loose plates, all have National
Atlas
of India in the upper left and a plate number in the upper right.
However,
the plate numbers rarely match the plate titles according to the two
lists I
was able to find via the Internet.

One list was printed from the National Atlas and Thematic Mapping
Organisation (NATMO) Web site a few months back.  It is for the 8
volume
set
and lists 300 plates.  Unfortunately, the NATMO Web domain
(www.natmo.org)
has recently expired and I can't go back and access it for any more
information.  The second list I have is from Vedams Books from India
(www.vedamsbooks.com/no31476.htm) and is for the Abridged Edition
(English),
listing 30 plates.

Some of the plates I have in hand match up with the Abridged edition
and
some of with the 8 vol. set.  However, most don't seem to match either
at
all.  The plate number is different or the plate title is wrong
(depending
on how you look at it).  Has anyone tackled this frustrating set of
maps?
Are there other editions of the Atlas out there with numbering systems
that
will map to the numbers I have?  Any insight would be most
appreciated!

Thanks,

Matthew Parsons, Map Librarian
Map Collection and Cartographic Information Services Unit
University of Washington Libraries
206-543-9392