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| Times Atlas of the World | |
|---|---|
| Name | Times Atlas of the World |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Atlas |
| Publisher | Times Books Ltd |
| Pub date | 1895–present |
| Media type | Print and digital |
Times Atlas of the World is a long-standing comprehensive world atlas originating in the United Kingdom that presents political, physical, thematic and thematic-reference maps for global users. It has been used by readers, scholars and institutions across fields that include geography, cartography and international affairs, and has accompanied editions of major reference works and newspapers. The atlas has seen successive editorial teams, cartographers and publishers adapt to changing borders, technologies and standards in mapmaking.
The atlas traces roots to late 19th-century British publishing and periodicals connected with The Times (London), evolving through editions that reflect geopolitical events such as the First World War, the Second World War, the Cold War, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and decolonization across Africa and Asia. Editorial milestones coincide with cartographic advances used by institutions like the Royal Geographical Society and governmental mapping agencies including the Ordnance Survey. Notable contributors and advisers over decades have included scholars associated with Cambridge University, Oxford University, Harvard University, and professional cartographers tied to firms in London and New York City.
The atlas has been issued in large-format folios, standard hardcover editions and pocket-sized versions, alongside specialized thematic supplements tied to events such as the Olympic Games and global summits like the United Nations General Assembly. Landmark numbered editions—produced in the 20th and 21st centuries—often carried revised plates after major political changes including the independence of India, the emergence of South Sudan, the breakup of Yugoslavia, and reunification of Germany. Publishers and imprint changes involved companies connected with Times Newspapers Ltd, book divisions in London, and international co-editions for markets in United States and Australia.
Cartographic techniques in successive editions show transitions from engraved and lithographic plates used in the Victorian era to phototypesetting and full-colour digital raster and vector production. Design elements follow conventions familiar to professional mapmakers at the British Cartographic Society and use projection choices such as the Mercator projection, Robinson projection, and equal-area projections when depicting global themes. Colour palettes, shading conventions, and hill-shading approaches reflect standards promoted by bodies including the International Cartographic Association and mapping departments of national libraries.
Coverage encompasses political maps of Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, regional insets for metropolitan areas like London, New York City, Tokyo, and Shanghai, and thematic plates addressing topics such as climate zones, population distribution, time zones, and transport networks including references to airports like Heathrow Airport and ports such as Port of Shanghai. Gazetteer entries link place-names to coordinates and elevation data, often cross-referenced with standards used by the Geographical Names Board and international datasets compiled by agencies like NASA and the United Nations.
Production integrates editorial research, cartographic drafting, data acquisition, and printing processes performed by specialist workshops and large commercial printers historically located in London and modern facilities in Europe and North America. The editorial process has engaged contributors from institutions such as the Royal Geographical Society, university geography departments including University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, and national statistical offices like the United States Census Bureau and the Office for National Statistics (UK). Publishing logistics include ISBN assignment, distribution channels connecting with booksellers in Piccadilly, international wholesalers, and library acquisitions by national libraries such as the British Library and the Library of Congress.
Scholars, educators and reference librarians have cited the atlas in works on geopolitics, historical cartography and regional studies covering cases like the Partition of India, the Suez Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the breakup of Czechoslovakia. It has been compared in reviews with competing publications such as atlases published by National Geographic Society and by commercial mapmakers in Frankfurt and New York City. Academic courses in departments at University College London and London School of Economics have used the atlas as a classroom resource; public institutions including museums and archives have retained editions in their research collections.
Digital conversions and online portals have provided map zooming, layer toggles and searchable gazetteers compatible with GIS workflows and linked-data initiatives. Digital releases integrate with services and standards from organizations like ESRI, the Open Geospatial Consortium, and data sources from European Space Agency and United States Geological Survey. Mobile and web editions support users who reference spatial data alongside multimedia from institutions such as the BBC and educational platforms like Coursera.
Category:Atlases Category:Cartography