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Descriptive text for eight maps of Switzerland, numbered 18 within Atlas der Schweiz, in German, French and Italian. On first page - front cover - of eighteenth (numbered) folio. Maps follow text on second, third and On fourth page - back cover - of folio. Title translates to: [Zoogeography]. Titles of maps listed beneath folio title. Text begins: In der Vegetationskarte der Schweiz sind die Vegetationen nach ihrem horizontalen und vertikalen Vorkommen dargestellt ... [= In the vegetation map of Switzerland, the vegetations are shown according to their horizontal and vertical occurrence ... ]. Text continues on back cover of folio with French and Italian translations of German on front cover. Includes scale statements for differing scales. "18" in upper right corner. (Date taken from following page.)

Eduard Imhof’s Atlas der Schweiz [= Atlas of Switzerland], published in Wabern bei Bern in 1978 (first edition). Housed in a red solander case, with gilded parallel titles on front cover. The Atlas was issued in nine “Lieferung” [= deliveries], from 1965 to 1978, each with its own cover, which includes a table of contents listing the maps within that delivery. All nine covers are included, in chronological order (newest to oldest), following the folios in the case. In addition, a table of contents sheet appears at the beginning of the atlas, with a comprehensive list of the maps within the folios of all nine deliveries. Five unnumbered folios introduce the atlas, with a title page, table of contents, introductory text, and several overview maps of Switzerland on loose transparent sheets, at different scales to represent the range of scale within the atlas. Following the introductory text text are eighty-six numbered folios containing double plates printed with maps, diagrams, charts and profiles. In addition, some maps and diagrams appear alongside the text on the front and back covers of the folios. Scale of the principal maps is 1:500,000. Folios all include German, with French and Italian translations; the folios with maps on language also include Romansh, the national language of Switzerland. In 1981, a second edition was published, edited by Ernst Spiess, who contributed to the first edition as an author. The superlative graphic design of the maps expertly communicates many geographic dimensions of Switzerland, spanning its natural, statistical, cultural, economical and historical features, over centuries. See, for instance, the exquisite visual language in the map entitled Rhonegletscher [= Rhone glacier] within folio 79, Wallis [= Valais] (List No. 14256.283), which delicately illustrates the lines of glaciers receding, comparing the glacial coverage in 1602, 1818, 1914 and 1971. The representation of topography in the glaciers is also impressive, with the slopes represented in ice blue contour lines, over white expanses representing ice. In addition to the mesmerizing visuals, the text is also strikingly artistic, with its poetic titles and descriptions of the maps. For example, this title of a map within folio 13, Klima und Wetter III [= Climate and weather III] (List No. 14256.064): Début du printemps indiqué par la date de floraison de la dent-de-lion (taraxacum officinale), Moyenne des années 1951 à 1960 [= Spring arrival, shown on the data of the dandelion flowering, mean values for the years 1951-1960]. Other examples abound throughout Atlas der Schweiz, a cartographic masterpiece. “Eduard Imhof, Swiss cartographer, was asked to produce an Atlas of Switzerland in 1961. The atlas illustrated the country ,,, in maps that exhibited the full expression of Imhof’s abilities. Supported by numerous Swiss scientists the first edition was finished in 1978 and published by the Federal Office of Topography. The maps are authoritative precisely because of this fundamental scientific basis and consultation but they are brought to life by the artistry of Imhof … an expert cartographer and artist. That combination is fundamental to understanding his work since the artistic dimension to his many works creates maps that are [aesthetically stunning, as well as scientific]. Here, even a complex statistical map showing daily commuter patterns in 1960 mixes clear geometric point symbology with perfectly curved distributive flow-lines.” With his keen visual sensibilities, Imhof minimized text within the maps, allowing full attention to graphic details. Still, Imhof supplied thorough scientific information through the texts accompanying the maps, in the preceding and subsequent pages. Field, Kenneth (2014). Atlas of Switzerland 1961-1978 by Eduard Imhof, 1978. ICA Commission on Map Design. https://mapdesign.icaci.org (Parallel titles in French and Italian included, but parallel statements of responsibility and imprints omitted, except for within Pub Title. Omissions indicated by ellipses

https://mapdesign.icaci.org

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