LIS 601 Geographic

Sources

Spring 2013Dr. Diane Nahl

University of HawaiiLibrary and information Science Program

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Geographic Sources• Geographic Literacy

• Geography games

• Oldest written form of communication [6200 BC wall painting, 2500 BC tablet, 15th century ms.]

• Most expensive rare books sold in 2006 [Ptolemy: Cosmographia 1477, Geographia 1490, $4.4m]

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Geographic Sources• Most expensive rare books sold in 2007:

#5. David Roberts, The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia.

• First quarto edition from 1855-56 of one of the greatest lithographic works ever printed. Roberts was the first Westerner to be granted permission to enter many sacred mosques and monuments in the Middle East. There are detailed drawings, six pictorial title pages, and two engraved maps. Roberts spent 11 months in 1838 to 1839, traveling and sketching throughout the area. Six volumes sold for $13,000 (Abe Books)

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Geographic Sources• Most expensive rare books sold in 2009:

#1. Gerardus Mercator’s “Atlas”

• A cartographer from France, Mercator was responsible for the first book to be called an “atlas” published in 1595. Mercator was also famous for the Mercator projection method of depicting the spherical nature of the earth on a flat map, a technique that is still used today. Sold at auction for $781,00(Sotheby’s).

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Geographic Sources• Most expensive rare books sold in 2010:

# 6. Ottoman Atlas

• Published in 1860s, this atlas contains 31 hand-colored maps prepared and printed in the Muhendishane I Berri Humayun (the Royal School of Military Engineering in Istanbul). Sold for $19,500 (Abe Books).

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Geographic Sources• Most expensive rare books sold in 2011:

#6. STAUNTON, George. An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China.

• Published in 1797-1798 in three volumes. This set is the second edition (corrected) and was signed by the author.

• Contains an atlas with 44 engraved views, plans, plates and maps and charts, including large folding world map, with notices of several places where they stopped in their way out and home taken chiefly from the papers of the Earl of Maccartney, Sir Erasmus Gower and the gentlemen in the Embassy. Sold for $17,000 (Abe Books).

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Geographic Sources• The most expensive rare book sold in October 2012:

de Galaup, Jean-François. Voyage de La Pérouse autour du Monde.

• Published in 1798 by Plassan, this second edition set contains four octavo volumes and one atlas, 30 maps, including 20 folding, and 38 views, plans, and plates depicting flora, fauna and boats.

• They detail the journeys of explorer Jean-François de Galaup who was appointed by Louis XVI to lead an expedition around the world; and more specifically to complete and correct the Pacific maps of James Cook. Sold for $19,539 (Abe Books).

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Largest Atlas

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Geographic Sources

• Largest book in the world• Kiencke Atlas (world)• 5’ tall x 6’ wide• 350 years old• 37 maps, beautifully drawn• Given to King Charles II by Dutch

merchants• Summer 2010 was on display with pages

open at the British Library at the maps exhibition

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Geographic Information Needs: Location

Questions• Current events

• Recreation

• Business

• Historical geography• Genealogy• Military history• Place name changes

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Types of Map Sources• Encyclopedias,

Handbooks, Almanacs & Yearbooks

• Local or Regional Atlas

• World Atlas

• Student Atlas

• Commercial Atlas

• Historical Atlas

• Thematic Atlas

• Show Atlas

• National Atlas

• Weather Maps

• Electronic Maps, GPS, Geographic Browsers

• Satellite Image Maps• Google Earth Projects• Japan Quake Map• Quakes Live Earthquake Map

• Tree , Sound, Geocaching, & Planetary Maps

• Travel Guides

• Globes

• Gazetteer & Geographic Dictionary

• Name Standards

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Solid Geographic Features

• Cities & Towns

• Roads, Railroads

• Topography/relief

• Rivers, Streams & Lakes

• Oceans & Seas

• Swamps & Wetlands

• Mountains & Forests

• Parks

• Historical sites

• Cultural places

• Lighthouses

• Airports

• Tunnels

• Post Offices

• Banks

• Etc.

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Social Geographic Features

• Political boundaries

• Historical boundaries

• Commodities

• Transportation

• Population

• Commerce

• Industry

• Demographics

• Language

• Ethnicity

• Religion

• Etc.

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Other Mapped Features

• Climate & Weather

• Environment

• Risk assessment

• Farm types

• Wildlife populations & migration

• Oil, gas & water resources

• Energy types

• Etc.

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Respected Map Publishers

• Rand McNally

• C. S. Hammond

• National Geographic Society

• John G. Bartholomew

• Oxford University Press

• George Philip & Sons

• Michelin

• Kummerly & Frey

• U.S. Geoglogical Survey (U.S.G.S)

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Evaluating Geographic Sources

• Currency

• Accuracy

• Authority

• Emphasis

• Bias

• Scale

• Projection

• Color

• Symbols

• Density

• Font style & size

• Marginalia

• Legend

• Index

• Binding

• Price

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Due in Two Weeks

• TEXT CHAPTERS 6 & 11; Handout p. 45

Biography

• SW 6 Geographic Sources

• April 2 no guest instructor, Dr. Peter

Jacso is unavailable