George Franklin Cram was a civil war veteran who marched with Sherman prior to his career as a map publisher. In 1867, George F. Cram and his uncle, Rufus Blanchard, founded the company Blanchard & Cram in Evanston, IL. The company manufactured and sold maps and atlases. Cram became the sole owner two years later and renamed it the George F. Cram Company. They sold a wide variety of atlases including the popular Unrivaled Atlas of the World which was printed continuously from the 1880s to 1952. In 1921, George Cram sold his business to one of his largest customers, E.A. Peterson of the National Map Company. The company is to this day producing quality maps and globes.

A massive atlas containing 173 cerographic maps and plans of the world and continents. The atlas has 864 pages of text that is interspersed with black and white photographs, thematic maps and charts, examples of flags and coats of arms from various countries. There are a pair of bird's-eye views, one of the Holy Land, and the other of the Maritime Canal of Nicaragua. This was apparently the preferred choice for the project that was to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus of Central America, as there is hardly any mention of the route through Panama. Rebound with original green cloth covered boards and silver title on front. Gilt tile on black band on spine. Small folio.

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Condition: B+

Contents very good to excellent with some light age toning. A couple edge tears in the table of contents have been repaired with paper. The original cloth covers have some staining and minor shelf wear. Spine and binding are sound. Missing a sheet of three maps (Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL and San Francisco, CA).