Cool Gift of the Day
Monday, November 28, 2005
What it is:
A beautifully bound and exceptionally detailed atlas.
Why we love it:
Finding your way to a place has never been easier than it is today; between online mapping, GPS units and cell phone operators who will give you directions, it's nearly impossible to get lost anymore. Trust us, we've really, really tried. Still, all these handy devices, while they may keep you from losing your way, do nothing to help you understand the vastness of the world. Sometimes you don't just want to know how to get there, you want to understand where there is. Since most of us aren't going to get a chance to take another geography class anytime really soon, the right tool to observe our world is needed. Atlas Major, first published in 1665 by renowned cartographer Joan Blaeu, is considered the world's most comprehensive baroque atlas. For anyone who loves maps, mapmaking and just the sheer artistry with which we observe our world, this is a unique and wonderful choice. What a gift to give someone, a greater understanding of their world.
Who we'd give it to:
Cartographers, geography teachers, college students, academics and curious souls.
Where to get it:
From
Amazon for an illuminating $200.00