----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I did not read the original query, because I was on vacation and signed off Maps-L for about two weeks. As editor of the revised version of Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici a practical definition of an atlas was necessary ('practical' because I need the definition to decide if a book is included or not). In the introduction of the new edition I add a chapter 'What is an atlas' and will give this definition: "An atlas is defined as a book with maps, which meets the following characteristics (free after Meurer and Akerman): (1) a collection of printed maps in book form or bound similar to a book; in case text is included, the publisher_s intention to give the dominance of graphic elements (particularly maps, plans or town views) over textual elements, must be clear, either from the title or from the concept of the work; (2) the rough uniformity of map format, design, and presentation throughout the work; and (3) the standardization (generally), from copy to copy in each edition, of composition and arrangement of atlas component." Although mainly intended for old atlases (up to the 19th century) the definition (esp. point 1) may be of use for modern atlas too. Simply said the criterion is: if the text is an explanation to the maps, then it is an atlas; if the maps are illustrations to the text, it is not an atlas. The amount of text is not of importance. The literature used is: Akerman (1991): On the shoulders of a Titan: viewing the world of the past in atlas structure / James Richard Akerman. -Thesis, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor in philosophy, Pennsylvania State University 1991. Akerman (1995): From books with maps to books as maps: the editor in the creation of the atlas idea / James R. Akerman. - In: Editing early and historical atlases / edited by Joan Winearls. - Toronto [etc.]: University of Toronto Press, 1995. p. 3-48. Van der Krogt (1994): Van Atlas tot atlas. - In: Kartografisch Tijdschrift 20(1994)3, pp. 11-18. (summarized version without annotations: From Atlas to atlas. - In Mercator's World 1(1996)1, pp. 61-63 & 93. Meurer (1988): Atlantes Colonienses : die Kölner Schule der Atlaskartographie 1570-1610 / Peter H. Meurer. _ Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale : Verlag Dietrich Pfaehler, 1988. Meurer (1991): Fontes Cartographici Orteliani: das _Theatrum Orbis Terrarum_ von Abraham Ortelius und seine Kartenquellen / Peter H. Meurer. - Weinheim : VCH Acta humaniora, 1991. Pastoureau (1984): Les atlas français XVIe-XVIIe siècles : répertoire bibliographique et étude / Mireille Pastoureau [et al.]. _ Paris : Bibliothèque Nationale, 1984. Varanka (1994): Editorial and design principles in the rise of English world atlases 1606-1729 / Dalia Varanka. - A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, June 1994. Wallis & Robinson (1987): Cartographical innovations: an international handbook of mapping terms to 1900 / edited by Helen M. Wallis and Arthur H. Robinson. - Tring : Map Collector Publications (1982) Ltd., 1987. Woodward (1982): The technique of atlas making / David Woodward. - In: The Map Collector 18(March 1982), p. 2-11. At 17:38 21-08-96 EDT, you wrote: >----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >Cheryl, > >The cartographic dictionary of the Dutch Cartographic Society >(1991) defines atlas as: > >"A systematic, coherent collection of maps, usually in the form >of a book, which represent a certain area or which treats one or >more geographic phenomenons" (it can alos be a loose-leaved >book). >In the past certain atlases were also referred to as 'kaartboek' >(which doesn't have a translation, but means 'mapbook') > >The dictonary defines further 25 kinds of atlases. However it >doesn't say anything about the relation maps vs text. > >In the introduction to the 'Atlantes Neerlandici' Volume I, C. >Koeman writes about one page (XI) about the problem of how to >define a map (see also 'La cartografia dels Paisos Baixos', p. >184) and the relation maps vs text becomes not more transparent. >Keeping in mind that Mercator wanted to create a geographical >encyclopedia which later resolved into an altas because of his >untimely death, we do not know what his real intention was. > >However we'll define it, the definition will be arbitrary as to >the amount of maps a book must carry to be counted an atlas. > >When using the word atlas in our sense it is well to define it as >a geographical atlas, as in general the word is used for books >which map certain visualized topics (:->), as we have atlases of >skeletons, plants, etc. > >And then to know that last year there was a large unresolved >discussion on MAPHIST about the topic "What is a map?" > >Jan Smits >Map Curator Koninklijke Bibliotheek, National Library of The >Netherlands >[log in to unmask] >tel: + 31 70 3140241 >fax: + 31 70 3140450 > > YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Dr Peter van der Krogt Map historian, Explokart Research Program FRW-Cartography, University of Utrecht P.O. Box 80.115 3508 TC UTRECHT, The Netherlands e-mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] fax: +31 30 254 0604 or +31 15 212 6063 Cartography homepage: http://kartoserver.frw.ruu.nl/ YYYYYYYYYY PER ANGUSTA AD AUGUSTA YYYYYYYYYY