Overview

The map plans in this collection, covering 40 cities in Europe, Russia, the United States and Asia, were first published in the mid-19th century. The maps were all commissioned and drawn within a period of 13 years, and can be considered as artistic works in their own right. The hand-coloured, hand lettered steel engravings represent an era of exceptional artisanal skill, and present an opportunity to compare urban development among 40 cities in 19 countries. They are reproduced here in large format. The cities include Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Venice, as well as smaller cities such as Calcutta, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Lisbon, Marseilles, Parma and Stockholm. An introductory essay by Melville C. Branch discusses the historical evolution of urban design, and provides a background on engraving techniques. He also evaluates each map-plan, remarking on the details of each engraving and the evolution of the forms of the cities, their histories, and demographic characteristics.

Full Product Details

9781568980737

Table of Contents

Reviews

A superbly illustrated study of the history, nature, and patterns of growth of 40 well-known urban centers in 19 countries, tracing their development up to the 1840s. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times An Atlas of Rare City Maps is by far the most strangely beautiful book I've seen in years. It's composed of amazingly detailed, finely engraved maps, dating from the 1830s, of European, North American, and Asian cities, with expert commentary to explain it all. Men's Journal

A superbly illustrated study of the history, nature, and patterns of growth of 40 well-known urban centers in 19 countries, tracing their development up to the 1840s. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times <br> An Atlas of Rare City Maps is by far the most strangely beautiful book I've seen in years. It's composed of amazingly detailed, finely engraved maps, dating from the 1830s, of European, North American, and Asian cities, with expert commentary to explain it all. Men's Journal <br>

Author Information

Melville C. Branch has been a pioneer in his field for half a century and was the first in the world to receive a doctorate in planning (Harvard, 1949). He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the School of Urban Planning and Development, University of S

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available