The Atlas - The World in a Book

The Library has a wonderful collection of rare atlases that are historic, beautiful and informative. They tell stories about how we recorded new knowledge and learnt about the physical world in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Through these rare books we also see how printed maps reflect the history of art and design.

Maggie Patton will share some of her favourites, including the first atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, a collection of 53 maps published in 1570, considered to be the first example of an atlas. Maggie will also discuss Blaeu’s magnificent Le grand atlas, from 1667.