Explorers' Maps: Chapters in the Cartographic Record of Geographical Discovery

4to (28.5 cm), front., XI, 337 pp. Publisher's cloth with dust jacket (dj slightly rubbed and creased). The book traces the development of cartography from the maps and charts of medieval travelers to the scientifically accurate, sophisticated charts of 18th- and 19th-century surveyors. It also tells the story of how Europe discovered and explored the rest of the world. Raleigh Skelton (1906–1970), Superintendent of the Map Room at the British Museum from 1950 to 1967, is best known for his work on the history of cartography, particularly his efforts to prove the authenticity of the Vinland Map.