This unusual item is a facsimile of Konrad Kretschmer's two-volume atlas published in 1892. Kretschmer was commissioned to create an atlas to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus. His research for the project took him to Italy, where he painstakingly copied and reduced historical maps in libraries and archives, many of them manuscript maps on vellum. His copies were then reproduced by photolithography process and published, bringing these rare maps to the public for the first time. Twenty-two of those maps are reproduced in facsimile here in full color, along with introductory text and descriptions in both German and English. 118 pages of text, plus plates. Hardbound in blue cloth with gilt titles on cover and spine. Book slides into an illustrated cardboard slipcase.

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Condition: A

Near fine, with minor spots on the spine and negligible wear to slipcase.