A beautifully printed British introduction to some of the world's most important maps (such as the Peutinger, Ptolemy's projection or Leo Belgicus). The author is particularly interested in land and coastline. For the early explorers, however, the sea and its perils were as important. The book also lacks a relief map (eg of the Alps) that show majestic peaks and valleys. Overall, it is a polished, worthy introduction to an important topic that has seen enormous change in recent years (see Google Earth). ( )