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I am in the process of reading two books which have no direct
bearing on the history of cartography, but might be of peripheral
interest to some. Neither has an index so I can't check to see if maps
are mentioned specifically, but have to read the entire book. The first
is PRICELESS by Robert Wittman (Broadway Paperbacks [Random house],
2010) and it deals with art theft. The theft of maps from institutions,
private collections, and dealers is art theft even if maps may not seem
to be as glamorous as Old Masters and tomb trinkets. The economics are
similar whatever the object stolen happens to be. Good background into
that world and inspiring because this is a story of recovered works.
The second book is PARADISE LUST: SEARCHING FOR THE GARDEN OF EDEN by
Brook Wilensky-Lanford (Grove Press, 2011). Eden, along with Atlantis
and el Dorado, has been long sought, but never found. Searching for
something not there might result in the accidental discovery of
something which is, but that's beside the point. I am of the school
which thinks compilations of foolishness have a place in research by
providing a "one stop to shop" for such ideas. So far in my reading,
Wilensky-Lanford does a pretty good job giving the background for the
various locations and something about the various champions of each
idea. The endpaper map indicates the general locations discussed. As I
noted, not central to the history of cartography, but not completely
removed.
JBP
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