Rediscovering the map that changed the world
“The map that changed the world” doesn’t need much of an introduction — we have written about William Smith’s groundbreaking map twice before (http://on.fb.me/1C7HZPB & http://on.fb.me/1bPAaco ) and was the world’s first geologic map to be copied for wider use in the geologic community. A map of the British Isles’ geologic units, only 70 copies of Smith’s map were estimated to have survived out of about 370 that were originally produced.
As irony would have it, a first edition copy of the map reemerged in the archives of the Geological Society of London, more than 40 years after it was last seen by human eyes. Tucked away in brown, leather-bound case and composed of 15 separate sheets, archivists were aware of the first edition’s survival — the only problem was that they couldn’t find it.
But the map actually benefited from its extended hibernation. The first edition retained its vibrant watercolor finish, which was preserved because it hadn't been exposed to light over a long period of time. Archivists determined that this edition was definitely among the first 50 produced, and perhaps even one of the first 10. The map is currently on display at the Geological Society in London, as part of a series that is celebrating the map’s bicentennial anniversary.
Photo credit: http://bit.ly/1GLiiuI
Further reading: http://bit.ly/1CoGbqd
Visit the map the changed the world:http://bit.ly/1C85hoo
Even more reading if you are up to it:http://amzn.to/1xyMx6f[_
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