Britain's National Atlas: Review

Summary

This review assesses the 1963 Atlas of Britain and Northern Ireland, a landmark in British cartography produced by private enterprise after earlier government-backed proposals failed. Covering the whole United Kingdom at a standard scale of 1:2,000,000, the atlas maps contemporary national resources, with population based on the 1951 Census, agriculture and industry from mid-1950s data, and specialized maps using the latest available information. Its innovative approach combines conventional geological maps with original thematic treatments, while quantitative representation relies mainly on acreage, production, and employment rather than monetary values. The reviewer notes occasional over-ambitious map design and minor defects, but concludes that the atlas is monumental and essential for any serious library or reader seeking to understand Britain.