A List of Atlases: Atlas of Canada

Summary

This paper presents a comparative evaluation of six atlases published in the early twentieth century (1904–1916), assessing their cartographic design, informational richness, production quality, and value for users. The analysis is based on a qualitative examination of physical specifications—such as dimensions, binding, colour plates, map types, text supplements, indexes, and price—to draw conclusions about the state of atlas-making in the Anglophone and Francophone worlds. The review begins with a fragmentary reference to an unnamed British imperial atlas, notable for a 70‑page index with geographical coordinates and a 134‑page gazetteer. White’s “Atlas of Canada” (1906) earns high praise for its completeness and excellent colour maps, mounted on stubs. Reclus’s “Atlas de la plus Grande France” (circa 1916) is singled out as a masterpiece: 160 colour maps, each double‑page spread accompanied by text or black‑and‑white diagrams, presenting maximal information in an aesthetically refined manner. The author laments that no English‑language atlas matches its value or craftsmanship. Rand McNally’s “International Atlas of the World” (1915) is judged a solid American reference work, employing wax‑process printing and offering detailed U.S. statistics at a modest price. Schrader’s “Atlas de Géographie Moderne” (1904) exemplifies the French tradition of page‑efficiency, with double‑page colour maps backed by monochrome graphics and text, particularly comprehensive on France and its colonies; its geographic vision is held to align with the best American ideals. Hammond’s “Comprehensive Atlas,” by contrast, represents low‑cost production with cursory drawing and careless workmanship, although it remains functional as a pocket reference. The survey reveals a stark quality spectrum: sophisticated French atlases like those of Reclus and Schrader set a benchmark for integrated physical‑economic cartography and presentational elegance, while less expensive English‑language alternatives often compromise detail and drawing quality. The paper implicitly advocates a model that combines rigorous geographic content with a clear, user‑oriented layout—a standard that, in the author’s view, was then best realised by French atlas publishers.