"This is the first book to catalog comparative maps and tableaux that visualize the heights and lengths of the world's mountains and rivers. Produced predominantly in the nineteenth century, these beautifully rendered maps emerged out of the tide of exploration and scientific developments in measuring techniques. Beginning with the work of explorer Alexander von Humboldt, these historic drawings reveal a world of artistic and imaginative difference. Many of them give way-and with visible joy-to the power of fantasy in a mesmerizing array of realistic and imaginary forms. Most of the maps are from the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection at Stanford University."-- Provided by publisher.

"Translation of the French edition by Michelle Bailat-Jones"--Title page verso.

The great measuring of the world /Jean-Christophe Bailly -- Portraits of groups: Nineteenth-century tableaux of mountains and rivers / Gilles Palsky and Jean-Marc Besse -- Speak to the mind and the imagination: Humboldt's Tableau -- The world's highest mountains -- The world's longest rivers -- Mountains and rivers in contrast -- Thirst for comparison: Islands, lakes, waterfalls, and monuments -- Comparing scales -- The horizontal and the vertical.