The earliest map of the Lothians, from Scotland's first atlas, by Joan Blaeu (1654)
This landmark publication was what is now known as Scotland's first atlas. It presented a flattering, detailed, and visually stunning view of the country in 49 maps with accompanying written descriptions. The maps derive principally from the original surveys of Timothy Pont (around 1583 to 1614), Scotland's first map-maker. The publication was the responsibility of Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam's leading map publisher in the 17th century. Through this atlas, Scotland became one of the best-mapped countries in the world.
